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The World Karate Championships for cadets, juniors and under-21 athletes took place in the Polish city of Bielsko-Biała from October 14 to 18. Eleven Belarusian citizens and four Russian citizens arrived for the competition on tourist visas. They are to be deported for violating the rules of stay, bielsko.biala.pl reports.
According to Paweł Połtorzecki, head of the Polish Karate Union, the organisers had received information through various channels even before the competition began that Russian and Belarusian athletes would attempt to take part despite a ban imposed by the World Karate Federation and Poland’s Ministry of Sport.
The first detention took place when a Russian citizen turned up for a course for referees. The organisers subsequently asked border guards to check the athletes.
The border guards found that 15 people — 11 Belarusians and four Russians — had entered Poland on tourist visas, which did not correspond to the purpose of their stay.
All 15 were detained and ordered to leave Poland within eight days.
Nevertheless, Belarusian athletes took part in the competition. According to the Belarusian Ministry of Sport, Ivan Kudzinau took first place in the over-84 kg category at the World Under-21 Championships.