Ukraine Submits Evidence to IIHF; Russia Faces Possible New Suspension

In brief

• The IIHF has opened an inquiry into teams from occupied Ukrainian territories being placed in Russia's hockey system.
• The evidence was passed on by the Ukrainian federation and reaches the IIHF secondhand.
• Teams from occupied Donetsk and Luhansk are reportedly registered under the Russian federation this season.
• The CAS overturned an IIHF ban on Russian national teams on 30 October.

Investigation opened

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has launched a formal inquiry after receiving material from the Ukrainian federation. Journalist Gord Miller reported that the material was passed on by Ukraine's federation and that the IIHF had begun the investigation on that basis (Украина предоставила доказательства: России грозит новый бан после расследования IIHF – NV). The information reaching the IIHF is secondhand, according to a source cited in the reports, so it has not yet been independently established that the clubs were incorporated into the Russian structure.

Teams from Donetsk and Luhansk

According to the reports, teams from occupied Donetsk and Luhansk are registered for competitions under the Russian federation this season.

Possible consequences

If the allegations are substantiated, Russia could be suspended from IIHF events once more.

Background: CAS ruling

On 30 October, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld an appeal by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and overturned the IIHF decision that barred Russian national teams from international tournaments. The court found that the federation's safety arguments were not supported by sufficient evidence.