Federations struggle with the hard process of breaking ties with Russia

Judo is hit hard by the war between Russia and Ukraine. It has seriously embarrassed the International Judo Federation (IJF) due to its traditional close ties to Vladimir Putin and his judo entourage.

Still, the IJF had the guts to suspend Putin of his title as honorary president, e.g. to suspend him, suggesting that Putin may come back one day, but that chance seems very small after his latest threats and actions. A total break would therefore have been more obvious. Putin was stripped of his Dan grade by the Taekwondo Federation. He was awarded the 8th Dan in Judo in October 2012. He was honorary president since 2008.

The signal from the IOC and the IJF was clear, the European Judo Union (EJU) also had to follow and Russian President Sergey Soloveychik offered his resignation on Sunday. Soloveychik, was also vice president of the IJF, but meanwhile replaced by his succssor Otto Kneitinger (GER).

Besides his position in the IJF, Soloveychik was also vice president of the Russian Judo Federation along with Arkady Rotenberg. The Rotenberg brothers grew up with Putin in St. Petersburg and were his training partners in the judo club there. Putin's passion for the martial arts, which are popular in Russia, began in St. Petersburg, which he also pursued during his years in Vienna. Under Putin, Russia became the leading judonation in Europe. With Olympic titles, World titles and main events held in Russia such as European and World Championships and Grand Slams held each year since the establishment of the IJF World Judo Tour in 2009. This year’s edition in Kazan was canceled since the outbreak of the war and international call of the IOC to cancel all sporting events in Russia and Belarus.

The Rotenberg brothers (Arkady and Boris) founded the SMP Bank in 2001, has supported the European Judo Union as a premium sponsor for over ten years. The brothers became multi-millionaires through their interests in construction (including the Crimean Bridge), gas pipelines and banking. Arkady (70) is worth USD 3.3 billion to date, according to Forbes. Both Rotenbergs were and are the target of U.S. and European sanctions since 2014. Brother Boris (65) is worth USD 1.2 billion according to Forbes and with his older brother Arkady co-owner of SMP bank. Recently, the EJU presented three event sponsors, all three Russian. SMP, the company of the Rotenbergs, the trading company Zerno Zavolzhya and the video producer Fox Fly Film. It is clear that any kind of trade is affected by the economic sanctions. Trade and image building via sports now seems complex and doubtful, transfers are almost impossible and the ties with SMP are ‘not done’ given all international measures in the sports world.

The judo connections to Russia are extremely sensitive for athletes who are now banned from international sport. Two-time world champion from the Ukraine and icon of judo, Daria Bilodid, is making a public effort to encourage Russian athletes to stand up against Putin's policies. Bilodid and her teammates like the retired Georgii Zantaraia are now in bigger trouble as their country, home and existence is threatened.

International Judo still has some work to do to break the ties with Putin's entourage, although the first steps have been taken, and in judo those are giant steps.

European Union Sponsors on hold

On wednesday the EJU announced mutually agreed to put their ongoing contracts on hold with the current sponsors of the European Judo Tours (European Judo for seniors, juniors and cadets) due to the current escalation of the security situation in Eastern Europe, a logical decision.