Ukraine has escalated its complaint against the decision of motorsport's governing body the FIA to lift the ban on Russian competitors taking part in international events.
The Ukrainian Automobile Federation (FAU) has appealed to the FIA Court of Appeal, the organisation's highest authority, three days after requesting an urgent investigation by the FIA's ethics committee into the move.
The ban on individuals from Russia and Belarus competing in international motorsport events had been in place since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The FIA lifted it on 3 August in the wake of the International Olympic Committee deciding to remove its own similar ban on athletes from the two countries.
In motorsport, it remains forbidden to hold international events in Russia or Belarus.
- Monza memories - Italian GP in pictures through the years
- How to follow Italian Grand Prix on the BBC
The FAU's appeal is based on the fact that it says the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) opened and is operating offices in regions of Ukraine occupied by Russia - Crimea, the city of Sevastopol and the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts.
These are recognised by the United Nations as sovereign Ukrainian territory.
A statement added: "The FAU further notes that the FIA World Motor Sport Council's decision to lift restrictions on Russian and Belarusian motorsport competitors effectively amounts to the FIA imposing restrictions on competitors from Ukraine and numerous partner countries that have prohibited participation in competitions where the national symbols of the aggressor state are displayed."
Oleksandr Feldman, president of the FAU, said: "This is a flagrant breach of the FIA statutes and the International Sporting Code by the Russian Automobile Federation, which, like every FIA member organisation, is bound to comply with them.
"You cannot become the governing national sporting authority through drones and missiles. We call on the FIA to take urgent action to put an end to these violations and sanction the Russian Automobile Federation for its actions."
The FAU says these actions are in breach of both the FIA statutes and its international sporting code, which permit only one automobile club per country.
Feldman added: "This is a clear breach of the FIA statutes by the Russian Automobile Federation, which, as an FIA member organisation, is bound to comply with them.
"We will pursue all legal remedies available to us to restore the integrity of the motorsport system in accordance with the FIA statutes."
The FAU statement said that 23 Ukrainian motorsport competitors and officials had been killed since Russia invaded the country, and that the war had "disrupted motorsport activities and severely restricted freedom of movement throughout the country."
The FAU added that that the head of the RAF, Boris Rotenberg, is "directly subject to international sanctions imposed by the US, UK, EU, and other allied jurisdictions in response to aggression against Ukraine".
The move was approved by the FIA world council, to which sources have told BBC Sport it was proposed by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Following changes to the FIA statutes last year, the FIA ethics committee is now under the control of Ben Sulayem and his ally the president of the senate, Carmelo Sanz de Barros.
An FIA statement issued last week before Ukraine officially protested against the lifting of the ban said: "The FIA has updated the requirements for Russian and Belarusian drivers, national teams, competitors and officials following a vote by the World Motor Sport Council. This follows an announcement by the IOC on 7 July and similar updates issued by other international sporting federations.
"The FIA maintains its ban on organising events and competitions in Russia and Belarus. The FIA continues to monitor the situation closely in Ukraine and reserves the right to update its position in the future."
The FIA has been approached for further comment.
Leave a Comment