OVER THE UKRAINE INVASION, VLADIMIR PUTIN WAS STRIPPED OF HIS TAEKWONDO BLACK BELT
Over his country's invasion of Ukraine,
Russian President Vladimir Putin was stripped of his honorary taekwondo black
belt, a personal humiliation on top of international economic and sporting sanctions.
World Taekwondo condemned the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, stating
the "brutal attacks on innocent lives" violated the sport's values of
respect and tolerance. "As a result, World Taekwondo has decided to revoke
Mr. Vladimir Putin's honorary 9th dan black belt given in November 2013,"
the governing body stated in a statement.
It also stated that it would join the
International Olympic Committee in prohibiting the use of the Russian flag and
anthem in international sporting events. The International Judo Federation
announced on Sunday that Putin's title as honorary president and ambassador
would be suspended "in light of the current military crisis in
Ukraine." Russian national teams and clubs have been barred from competing
by other sporting organisations such as FIFA and UEFA. Putin has shown capable
technique while wearing martial arts outfits, portraying an image of power,
just as he has done in other carefully orchestrated events such as riding a
horse bare-chested or playing ice hockey.
On Monday, Russian forces shelled Kharkiv,
Ukraine's second largest city, bringing further penalties from the US and its
allies as part of Russia's worldwide isolation. Russia refers to its efforts in
Ukraine as a "special operation," claiming that they are not intended
to take territory but rather to damage Ukraine's military capabilities and
catch those it considers to be dangerous nationalists.
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