World Taekwondo Revokes Putin’s Honorary Black Belt Amidst Global Sports Backlash Against Russia’s Ukraine Invasion

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lost his honorary black belt in taekwondo following his country’s invasion of Ukraine.

World Taekwondo, which is the international federation governing the sport of taekwondo, announced on Monday (Feb 28) that it was stripping Mr Putin of his honorary black belt.

It is among the sports associations and other entities around the world announcing sanctions against Russia, condemning the brutal attacks on innocent lives.

“World Taekwondo strongly condemns the brutal attacks on innocent lives in Ukraine, which go against the World Taekwondo vision of ‘Peace is More Precious than Triumph’ and the World Taekwondo values of respect and tolerance,” said the governing body in a news release.

“In this regard, World Taekwondo has decided to withdraw the honorary 9th dan black belt conferred to Mr Vladimir Putin in November 2013.”

In solidarity with the International Olympic Committee, Russian and  Belarussian national flags will not be displayed at Workd Taekwondo events, nor will their national anthems be played at these events, the organisation added.

“World Taekwondo and the European Taekwondo Union will not organise or recognise taekwondo events in Russia and Belarus,” it added.

Mr Putin’s status as honorary president of and ambassador for the International Judo Federation was also suspended on Feb 27, following the invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile,  FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) have suspended Russia’s national teams and clubs from international football on Feb 28.

This means Russia will be excluded from the 2022 World Cup and the women’s Euro 2023 tournament, reported Reuters.

“FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice,”  UEFA announced in a statement on Tuesday.

FIA, the governing body of motor sports, said that the Formula One Russian Grand Prix at Sochi scheduled for September this year has been cancelled. It was “impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances”, the FIA said.

Even before the official announcement , four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel said he would not race in Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine. /TISG

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