Kalvitis: Ice Hockey World Championship Might Not Take Place if Russia Plays

Aigars Kalvitis, president of the Latvian Hockey Federation, told the broadcaster TV24 he believes next year's ice hockey world championship will not go ahead if Russian players actually take part. The tournament is run by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and is scheduled for 14 to 30 May.

Background

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Russian national hockey teams may return to international competition. Following that decision, Latvia, together with Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Austria and the Czech Republic, announced that they would not play against Russia at the world championship.

It has now emerged that the IIHF will appeal the CAS decision, arguing that two of the three arbitrators involved in the case have ties to Russia.

Kalvitis's assessment

If the Russians retain the right to compete, there is a theoretical possibility that the aggressor state's players could win the title almost without taking to the ice. Kalvitis, however, considers such a scenario impossible.

"It is not possible. In that year the championship simply will not take place. Who would play there? Two countries? The world championship is more likely not to happen than to happen without the participation of many countries. I think the IIHF will cancel the championship. If it cannot find a solution to this problem, that option cannot be ruled out," Kalvitis said.

The IIHF's appeal is still pending, and the source does not indicate what the final decision on Russia's participation will be.