Russian and Belarusian athletes, who were accepted via open registration and reside in their home countries, will be banned from running in the upcoming Boston Marathon, the Boston Athletic Association announced Wednesday.
Runners who are Russian and Belarusian citizens but reside outside either country will be permitted to compete in the race but not under those two flags.
BAA said via press release it will not recognize country affiliation or the flags of Russia and Belarus at any of its races and events "until further notice."
A spokesperson for the BAA said the organization was removing 63 athletes, collectively, from the Boston Marathon and the BAA 5K, WCVB reported.
The restrictions also apply to the 5K race, as part of punishments across sports worldwide in response to Russia's invasion of war-torn Ukraine. Belarus, a key staging area for military aggression, has faced broad punishments as well.
"We are horrified and outraged by what we have seen and learned from the reporting in Ukraine," Boston Athletic Association president and CEO Tom Grilk said in a press statement. "We believe that running is a global sport and, as such, we must do what we can to show our support to the people of Ukraine."
BAA said the organization would provide all Ukrainians who are registered and are unable to compete with a refund or option to defer to a future year.
The group will also make "reasonable attempts" to refund the Russian or Belarusian residents who will no longer be able to participate, "within the constraints as imposed by federal and international sanctions."
The annual April 18 race, which attracts some of the world's top competitors, is the oldest marathon and comprises the prestigious World Marathon Majors.
Join and support independent free thinkers!
We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.
Remind me next month
To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy
