Ukraine Urges FIA to Reverse Decision Lifting Ban on Russian and Belarusian Competitors

The appeal was confirmed in a statement from the head of the Ukrainian automobile federation, seen by BBC Sport, which said the country's Minister of Youth and Sports had written to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The minister's letter, addressed to Ben Sulayem and the FIA World Motor Sport Council, requested that the decision to lift sanctions be reconsidered. The move, which came at the behest of Ben Sulayem according to multiple sources, was described by the Ukrainian federation as having come as a complete surprise.

The ban on individuals from Russia and Belarus had been in place since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Ukrainian federation warned that while the decision aligns with recent International Olympic Committee rulings, it could prove counterproductive in motorsport, particularly regarding competition integrity. It noted that Ukrainian motorsport has suffered significant losses during the war, with a large number of competitors killed, circumstances it said cannot be disregarded.