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'This is hard': Tennis body denies plea in shock bans over Russia conflict

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (pictured left) speaking to the chair umpire, Russian Daniil Medvedev (pictured right) looking tired and (pictured middle) Russian President Vladimir Putin talking.
Russian and Belarusian players (including Aryna Sabalenka pictured left and Daniil Medvedev pictured right) will still able to play tennis under a neutral flag, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's (pictured middle) invasion of Ukraine. (Getty Images)

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has opted for a less severe punishment than called for from the Olympics committee and will allow individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to play tournaments.

Following the crisis in Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board recommended that sports federations and event organisers "not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions." (Belarus has supported the Russian invasion.)

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Following the call, FIFA banned all Russian national teams and clubs from all competitions "until further notice", all but ruling them out of World Cup qualification.

The move sparked conversation around whether sport bodies will heed the IOC's advice and ban high-profile individual athletes.

One such sport that would have been hugely affected by the ban on Russian athletes was tennis.

This would see new ATP World No.1 Russian Daniil Medvedev banned from the sport.

Belarusian WTA World No.3 Aryna Sabalenka would also find herself sidelined.

And on Wednesday, the ITF announced individual athletes would not be banned from taking part in ATP and WTA events.

Although Russian and Belarusian players will play under a neutral flag.

However, Russia and Belarus would be banned from taking part in team events such as the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.

Russian players Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Aslan Karatsev pose for a trophy after winning the Davis Cup Finals 2021.
Russian players Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Aslan Karatsev win the Davis Cup Finals 2021. (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)

“The international governing bodies of tennis stand united in our condemnation of Russia’s actions and, as a result, are in agreement with the following decisions and actions,” the statement read.

“The WTA and ATP Boards have made the decision to suspend the WTA / ATP combined event, scheduled this October in Moscow.

“The ITF Board has made the decision to suspend the Russian Tennis Federation and Belarus Tennis Federation membership and to withdraw their entries from all ITF international team competition until further notice. This action follows the cancellation of all ITF tournaments in Russia and Belarus indefinitely.

“At this time, players from Russia and Belarus will continue to be allowed to compete in international tennis events on Tour and at the Grand Slams. However, they will not compete under the name or flag of Russia or Belarus until further notice.”

The move certainly started a conversation around whether the ban was the right decision.

Daniil Medvedev's World No.1 rise

The call would have had a huge impact on the game.

Russian Daniil Medvedev just overtook Novak Djokovic to become the men's World No.1.

It was the first time since 2004 that someone other than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray has held the ranking.

Countryman Andrey Rublev is World No.6.

Both players have called for peace and an end to the war in Ukraine.

Russia's Daniil Medvedev leaves after his Mexico ATP Open 500 men's singles semi-final tennis match against Spain's Rafael Nadal at the Arena GNP, in Acapulco, Mexico, on February 25, 2022. (Photo by PEDRO PARDO / AFP) (Photo by PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images)
Russia's Daniil Medvedev leaves after his Mexico ATP Open 500 men's singles semi-final tennis match against Spain's Rafael Nadal at the Arena GNP, in Acapulco, Mexico, on February 25, 2022. (Photo by PEDRO PARDO / AFP) (Photo by PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian World No.14 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova went one step further and spoke out against her own government in a brave statement calling for an end to the war in Ukraine.

However, Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina said she won't compete against any Russian athletes on the Tour while the conflict continues.

Svitolina also made it clear during her statement that she didn't blame Russian or Belarusian athletes, but wanted the WTA to make their point clear before moving forward.

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