Dear members of the international Taekwon-Do community,
We thank the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) for their recent open communication regarding the position of All Russia Taekwon-Do Federation and its members within the ITF.
ITF Taekwon-Do Finland re-iterates its position: as long as Russia continues its unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine, and until peace in Ukraine has been achieved and international sanctions lifted, Russian participants should not be re-admitted into international ITF events, nor allowed to serve the ITF in any official or representative capacity.
If Russian athletes are permitted to participate under a neutral status in spite of these concerns, clear and enforceable conditions must be applied. At minimum, these conditions should include:
- an explicit and unambiguous public condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and
- a thorough background review to establish that the individual is free from institutional, financial or operational links to Russia’s military or state war efforts.
Taekwon-Do is founded on moral culture, integrity, and championing for freedom and justice. We recognise that individual athletes are not necessarily responsible for the actions of their state, and this is particularly true for juniors, who bear no moral or political responsibility for the war. Upholding current restrictions, or applying strict and principled conditions should any exceptions be made, is not an act of hostility towards individual practitioners. It is a stance in defense of international law, ethical values of the art, and the credibility of our federation.
We acknowledge that there are currently multiple on-going armed conflicts around the world. This statement does not diminish their seriousness. However, the present discussion concerns a specific and immediate decision regarding Russia’s role within the ITF, in a context where the misuse of sport for political legitimisation has been both systematic and ongoing.
ITF Taekwon-Do Finland respectfully urges Ordinary Voting Members of the ITF to consider the long-term moral and reputational consequences of this decision, and to oppose the readmission of Russian participation in ITF activities at this time.
In the spirit of justice, transparency and the tenets of Taekwon-Do,
ITF Taekwon-Do Finland
