The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on Wednesday overturned its ban on Israel from competing in its world championship events next week in Bulgaria.
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Last week, the IIHF said in a statement that its ruling council "has decided to restrict the Israeli National Team from participating in IIHF Championships until the safety and well-being of all participants (including Israeli participants) can be assured."
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Israel's ice hockey team captain Eliezer Sherbatov attends a training session with his ice hockey team Unia Oswiecim, in Oswiecim
(Photo: AFP)
However, Israel appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and a hearing was scheduled for later Wednesday. However, before the hearing took place, the Israeli Ice Hockey Federation received a letter stating that the suspension was lifted, thus obviating the need for the hearing.
The men's under-20 team will participate in the upcoming World Championship (Division III) to be held in Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina in late February. Meanwhile, the women's team will compete in the World Championship (Division III) in Estonia at the end of March.
The IIHF also excluded the Russian and Belarusian teams for "security reasons" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The IIHF tried to apply the same clause to Israel, allegedly due to the influence of board member Pavel Bure. It is claimed that Bure's action was a retaliatory move for Russia's exclusion from the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris this summer.