The chair of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports spoke about a request from players of the Russian youth hockey team to the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) asking to be allowed to compete in the 2025 World Championships. In the interview with vprognoze.ru, the legislator urged the Russian Hockey Federation (RHF) to open a direct dialogue with the IIHF so the status of the team could be clarified on a formal footing.
The deputy referred to the situation surrounding CSKA goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov, who was barred from playing in Russia by IIHF rules yet continued to play for the army club. He noted that both the club and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) have maintained a clear and consistent position that adheres to international regulations, and he asked the IIHF to state clearly whether these rules were the reason behind the suspension of Russian players.
“If this signals a call for action from our side, then negotiations should begin. The RHF should declare its stance. If this issue truly blocks our athletes from competing, we must face it head-on. Yet it seems to me this could be a pretext unconnected to the acceptance of our players,” the deputy stated.
He argued that the federation should pursue constructive dialogue and view any official response as a basis for ongoing talks. The aim would be to resolve questions transparently and possibly facilitate participation in future events, if possible. The emphasis was on finding a workable path that respects the rights of the players while considering international norms and safety considerations.
In their communications with the IIHF, Russian players reminded that the team was not permitted to finish the tournament canceled due to the coronavirus in 2022, and that they were prevented from taking part in events in 2023 and 2024 on grounds labeled as “security issues.” The backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has been cited by the IIHF to justify such decisions. The players also pointed out that similar armed conflicts had not resulted in the same treatment toward other national teams, highlighting a discrepancy that warrants examination beforehand in any dialogue about fairness and consistency.
The former president of the IIHF acknowledged that the issue had drawn attention from Russian hockey players and sparked discussions about how international bodies should handle security concerns while maintaining competitive opportunities for athletes.