Wickenheiser among dozen Canadian athletes demanding IOC boot out RussiaFrom calling for ejection to athletes lobbying for more punishment, Canada has invested in sport sanctions against Russia on multiple fronts.

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'Until [invasion] stops Russia has no place in the Olympic movement,' says hockey icon

Donna Spencer · The Canadian Press(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)comments

From calling for ejection to athletes lobbying for more punishment, Canada has invested in sport sanctions against Russia on multiple fronts.

International sport governing bodies barring Russia from events in response its invasion of Ukraine means Russians will likely not compete in March's women's world curling championship in Prince George, B.C.

Six-time Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser was among Canadian and international athletes calling for the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee to take the ultimate step of booting Russia and invasion-supporter Belarus out of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.

• Ukraine invasion puts Russia's elite sports status at risk

• FIFA draws backlash from Euro nations after allowing Russia to play as 'RFU' in World Cup qualifying

"I 100 per cent believe until Russia, the aggressor in this war, and anyone supporting Russia and the invasion and the killing of innocent people, until that stops Russia has no place in the Olympic movement, which is about peace and the world working together," Wickenheiser told The Canadian Press on Monday. 

"I think they need to ban Russia, Belarus."

Just over a week after the close of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the IOC recommended Monday that Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials be excluded from competition by international sport federations.

WATCH | Ukrainian athletes call for Russia, Belarus to be banned from Paralympics:

Ukrainian athletes release video calling for Russia, Belarus to be banned from Paralympics

22 hours agoDuration 2:02'Global Athlete' released a video featuring Ukrainian athletes, calling for Russian and Belarusian exclusion from the Beijing 2022 Paralympics after violating the Olympic truce.2:02

'Edict lacks teeth'

Wickenheiser, who capped her eight-year term on the IOC's athletes commission this year, says that edict lacks teeth as has the IOC's handling of Russia's doping scandal since 2014.

• Ukrainian Olympian pushes IOC, IPC to sanction Russia, Belarus for invasion

"Unfortunately, I've witnessed this dance with Russia for eight years. It's always appeasement," she said. "There's never harsh enough sanctions taken and it's time for that."

The Canadian Olympic Committee and the COC Athletes' Commission echoed  Wickenheiser's call for a ban.

The organizations said in a joint statement Monday that they "strongly urge all Canadian national sport organizations and organizations hosting international sporting events in Canada to immediately rescind invitations and bar the participation of athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus."

FIFA and the World Curling Federation were among the world sport bodies moving against Russia and Belarus on Monday, with Canada's domestic bodies following suit.

The International Ice Hockey Federation also held an emergency meeting which could impact the field for the men's world under-20 hockey championship in Alberta in August.

The WCF amended its rules with the intention of kicking Russia out of upcoming world championships, including the 13-country women's tournament March 19-27 in Prince George.

If more than 10 per cent of its member countries object in a three-day span, however, the amendment isn't immediate and gets punted to the next WCF assembly. 

The Russians had yet to declare a representative team for Prince George. Curling Canada doesn't want them there now.

"The invasion of Ukraine, a democracy, and an important member of our World Curling membership, must be met with swift and assertive sanctions that makes a strong statement of our collective values, our ethical stance, and, first and foremost, demonstrates concern for the safety and the freedoms of the people of Ukraine," Curling Canada said in a statement. 

"We also urge the WCF to continue working toward addressing longstanding, serious concerns that we and other member nations have raised about the culture of sport in Russia. These concerns must be dealt with in order to ensure a level playing field for all athletes, and to remain true to the spirit of curling."

FIFA, under considerable pressure when Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic refused to play World Cup qualifiers against Russia, suspended the latter country Monday. Canada joined in the condemnation.

"In steadfast support of Ukraine, its people and Ukrainian Canadians who represent the third largest Ukrainian population outside of Ukraine and Russia, Canada Soccer, its member associations and clubs will not compete at any level against Russia until sovereignty and territorial integrity are restored," Canada Soccer said in a statement.

"We wholeheartedly condemn the hostile attack on Ukraine by Russia and stand united with Ukrainians here in Canada and around the globe."

WATCH | Ukrainian Olympian urges IPC to ban Russian athletes from upcoming Paralympics:

Ukrainian Olympian urges IPC to ban Russian, Belarusian athletes from upcoming Paralympics

2 days agoDuration 9:12Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, the Olympian who flashed 'No War in Ukraine' sign after competing at Beijing 2022, shares his concerns about the Russian invasion and his desire for sanctions against Russia and Belarus.Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic refuse to play Russia in World Cup playoffs

(editor：)