(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) As Russian athletes are barred from international competition, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been stripped of his Taekwondo black belt, News Busters reported.
The World Taekwondo organization, which has given honorary black belts to numerous world leaders, strongly condemned Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, stripping him of his honorary belt.
The organization will also ban the presence of the Russian flag and the playing of the Russian anthem from future events.
World Taekwondo strongly condemns the brutal attacks on innocent lives in Ukraine, which go against the World Taekwondo vision of “Peace is More Precious than Triumph” and the World Taekwondo values of respect and tolerance.#PeaceIsMorePreciousThanTriumphhttps://t.co/nVTdxDdl2I
— World Taekwondo (@worldtaekwondo) February 28, 2022
“World Taekwondo’s thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and we hope for a peaceful and immediate end to this war,” World Taekwondo tweeted.
The International Judo Federation also suspended Putin of his status as the federation’s honorary president.
“In light of the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of Mr. Vladimir Putin’s status as Honorary President and Ambassador of the International Judo Federation,” the IJF wrote.
The international martial arts associations are merely the latest to attempt to sanction Putin and the Russians.
Elite institutions throughout the west are banishing Russian film, literature, athletics, and culture generally.
Even Russian cats have been banished from international competition.
Sanctions on cats? 🐈
Russian-owned cats have been banned from international competition following the invasion of Ukraine. FIFe (Fédération Internationale Féline) has also ruled that no Russian-bred cat can be imported and registered in its pedigree book outside Russia. pic.twitter.com/8CBHfgGTOZ
— CGTN Europe (@CGTNEurope) March 2, 2022
“Russian-owned cats have been banned from international competition following the invasion of Ukraine,” one user tweeted.
According to the new rule, “no Russian-bred cat can be imported and registered in its pedigree book outside Russia.”
