Statement from British Para Table Tennis

British Para Table Tennis stands with UK Sport in calling on all International Federations to take the strongest possible sporting sanctions against Russia and Belarus. We must be clear with Russia and their allies that their appalling actions will not be tolerated within the international sporting community and will have consequences.

We are also extremely disappointed in the IPC’s decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the Winter Paralympic Games and cannot see how this is compatible with the objectives of the Paralympic movement.

We welcome the International Table Tennis Federation decision – acting on the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee – to not invite Russian or Belarussian athletes or officials to any ITTF Group events until further notice. We also welcome the support for this decision announced by the European Table Tennis Union.

We call on the ITTF and ETTU to take the following further action:

• Cancel all international table tennis events in Russia and Belarus with immediate effect and until further notice
• Expel Russian and Belarussian officials from any positions held within the ITTF and ETTU with immediate effect
• Cease any sponsorship arrangements with Russian and Belarussian companies with immediate effect and any other income from Russian and Belarussian sources

Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people at this terrible time. We offer them our full support and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution.