ETTU | 3 Mar 2022

ETTU letter to member Associations

Dear friends,

The ETTU Executive Board met today to discuss further action needed to protect the integrity of our competitions and the wellbeing of our athletes. After careful deliberation, the ETTU Executive Board decided that Russian clubs will not be permitted to compete in any European Club competitions for the 2021-2022 season. This includes Russian clubs due to compete in the semi-final and final of the Men’s Champions League.

This decision is in line with the previous ETTU decision to not invite or allow Belarusian and Russian players and officials to participate in events hosted by ETTU until further notice and follows the recommendations set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and ITTF. In addition, no Belarusian or Russian national symbols, flags or anthems will be displayed at ETTU events until further notice.

The ETTU Executive Board also informs that both Vladimir Samsonov and Polina Mikhailova have self-suspended from their positions on the Executive Board, immediately after Igor Levitin’s self-suspension from the Presidency, until further notice.

The ETTU Executive Board accepts their decision and will continue to operate as normal, in full compliance with the ETTU Constitution, in order to best serve European table tennis. As the ITTF has repeatedly stated, Ping Pong Diplomacy has been at the heart of our sport for more than half a century and we join them in hoping that constructive dialogue can be the solution to any disputes.

As a table tennis family, we are united in our hope that peace will soon return to Europe.

Yours sincerely,

ETTU Executive Board