Czechs ban all Russian athletes from local competitions

The Czech government said late on Wednesday it had banned all athletes representing Russia from taking part in local competitions as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued. The government said it banned "the participation of individual athletes and sports teams representing the Russian Federation in sports competitions and games organised on Czech soil". At the same time, athletes and teams representing the Czech Republic must not take part in competitions held in Russia, it added in a statement. The decision was taken at the request of Czech sports associations.