Russia's ice hockey federation says the country's exclusion from this year's World Champions is not beneficial for the sport

 

The International Ice Hockey Federation last year suspended all national teams and clubs from Russia and Belarus due to the military conflict with Ukraine.

The IIHF has now extended that ban for the 2023-24 season, saying "it is not yet safe to reincorporate" the teams.

The World Championships take place in Finland and Latvia from 12-28 May.

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They were due to take place in St Petersburg, but the IIHF stripped the city of its host status and says risks to the safety of players, officials and fans is the reason behind the continuation of the ban.

Ice hockey powerhouse Russia has won the event five times since 1993, while the former Soviet Union lifted the world title on 22 occasions.

Taken together, those 27 triumphs are the joint highest World Championship victories of any nation, alongside Canada.

"The format of such tournaments as the World Championships implies competition between the strongest athletes of the planet, without national or ethnic discrimination," the Russian Ice Hockey Federation said.

"Russia is one of the world's leading ice hockey countries, it is among the leaders in terms of victories and medals of the most prestigious international tournaments.