Russia has continued to bleed on the sporting front over her invasion of Ukraine. The International Skating Union (ISU) has now joined the league of international sporting bodies that has sanctioned Russia. ISU yesterday confirmed that Moscow will not host a Grand Prix of Figure Skating leg in November, with no international events being held in Russia and Belarus “until further notice”. According to insidethegames.biz a replacement Grand Prix host will be sought for November 25 to 27, with interested National Federations asked to contact the ISU’s figure skating sports director Patricia Mayor by May 6.

The ISU had asked its members what punishment they thought Russia should face in response to the war in Ukraine, with athletes from the nations already barred from events. Skaters and officials from the Russian Skating Union, the Figure Skating Federation of Russia and the Skating Union of Belarus remain banned from ISU competitions “until further notice”.

More than 20 ISU members had called on the Council to prevent members from Russia and Belarus attending its Congress in Phuket, scheduled for June 6 to 10, and other official meetings and seminars, and ban candidates from both countries from standing for positions at the Congress. The Council has opted not to enact these measures, instead leaving them subject to a vote by members at the Congress, potentially at the beginning of the event.

The ISU claimed this decision was taken “considering the fundamental rights of ISU Members as laid down in the ISU Statutes and in Swiss Law, the ISU’s obligation to ensure that the interests of all ISU Members are observed and respected, and mindful of securing the validity of the upcoming 2022 ISU Congress”.

Taekwondo body honors Ikpea

Taekwondo Supporters Club of Nigeria (TSCON) has bestowed Rev Sam Ikpea, Chairman Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) with the honou-r of Ambassador. The honor was bestowed on Ikpea on Tuesday at a colorful event which took place in Lagos.

President of TSCON, ACP Gideon Akinsola (retd) who spoke after Ikpea’s decoration with the honor said his group found in Ikpea, a worthy Nigerian that is passionate about the nation’s sports development. In his words…”TSCON is pleased to appoint you as Ambassador.

After leading the Nigerian Football Supporters Club as its Chairman to various football events, we are very pleased to have you as our v e r y pleased to have you as our Ambassador and representative.” Akinsola pointed out that TSCON is a fully registered body whose primary aim is to promote the game of Taekwondo in the country. “ T S C O N is a fully inc o r p o r a t e d organisation that was duly registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission on June 5, 2015.

We are committed to the development and promotion of Taekwondo in Nigeria,” he said. He stressed that with the likes of Ikpea TSCON would be able to achieve her objectives. TSCON, he further disclosed plans to organize an annual youth taekwondo tournament, even as he urged corporate bodies and individuals to rally round the body.

UCI Nations Cup: Massari thumbs up Team Nigeria cyclists

President of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, CFN, Chief Giadomenico Massari has commended Team Nigeria female cyclists for putting up a respectable performance at the just concluded UCI Nations Cup in Glasgow, Scotland. According to Chief Massari, the five female cyclists, Ese Ukpeseraye, Tawakalt Yekeen, Mary Samuel, Grace Ayuba and Treasure Coxson did well, adding “considering the level of other participants, their performance was okay but a lot of improvement is required”. The CFN president said that the Nigerian cyclists competed with the best cyclists in the world, disclosing that the Italian squad had many Olympic and World Champions.

 “We got good points that will be important for our qualification to World Championships and the Olympics,” he said, adding that while Ukpeseraye’s time in the Keirin event improved from 15.6.23 secs to 13.1.28secs, that of Tawakalt reduced from 16.4.68secs to 17.9.79secs. The Secretary General of the CFN, Makpa Aliyu Shammah led the Team Nigeria delegation which included a mechanic, Auwalu Yakubu, a female coach, Angela Okoro and an Italian coach, Vincenzo Ceci, seconded to Nigeria by the world cycling body to assist the cyclists in preparation for the competition.