Kamil Bortniczuk said, ahead of a meeting of EU sports ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, that his goal would be to raise the issue of Russian sportspeople, activists, sponsors and money in the world of sports.
Leszek Szymański/PAP

Poland favours the expulsion of Russia from all sporting federations including the International Olympic Committee until the end of a peace process and reparations for Ukraine, Poland’s sports minister has said.

Kamil Bortniczuk said, ahead of a meeting of EU sports ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, that his goal would be to raise the issue of Russian sportspeople, activists, sponsors and money in the world of sports.

“I am in favour of ultimately excluding Russians – until the end of a peace process and therefore reparations for Ukraine – from all sports federations, led by the International Olympic Committee,” Bortniczuk added.

“A few weeks ago we had joint statement of the sports ministers of 37 countries, including almost all European countries… which was aimed at limiting as much as possible the participation of Russian sportspeople in world sports competition,” Bortniczuk said. “Today I think we have to go further.”

He added that the ban should also affect sports activists. “It’s an open secret that in recent years the Russian Federation has conducted a very aggressive diplomatic policy, by de facto buying seats on the boards of key sports federations,” he explained. “Therefore excluding Russian capital from the world of sport has to occur now.”

Bortniczuk said that following what had happened in Bucha, Ukraine, where many civilians were reportedly killed by Russian forces, Poland’s position should be understood by everyone in Europe. “There is no place in the world of sport for war criminals,” he said.