Head of the Ice Hockey Federation of Belarus suspended for five years for discrimination against athletes

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has disqualified President of the Ice Hockey Federation of Belarus Dmitry Baskov for five years, reported on the organization’s website. This decision was made following a 10-month investigation by the IIHF Disciplinary Council, which found that Basque had violated the Federation’s Code of Conduct.

The official, in particular, “tried to directly influence others [людей]so that they support the Belarusian authorities ”, threatened athletes and discriminated against them due to political convictions. The IIHF Collegium also found that Baskov abused his official position to support President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

Late November IIHF reported The Ice Hockey Federation and personally to Baskov about the beginning of the investigation. Local Tribuna wrotethat “a man similar to Baskov” was seen on the evening of November 12 at the “Ploshchad Peremen” in Minsk, when masked unknown persons beat one of the protesters, Roman Bondarenko. Man died in reanimation.

The head of the Ice Hockey Federation himself spokethat was not involved in the death of Bondarenko. IIHF, in turn, did not find confirmation of this information, but at the same time did not rule out the presence of Baskov at the scene of the tragedy.

In August, the National Olympic Committee of Belarus removed runner Christina Timanovskaya from the Tokyo Olympics on “the conclusion of doctors, in connection with the emotional and psychological state.” The athlete was forcibly taken to the airport, where she contacted the police, after which she taken away to a safe place. Shortly before that, she criticized Belarusian sports officials. Embassy of Poland in Japan issued Timanovskaya humanitarian visa.