Hockey legend Hasek demands ban on Russian athletes
Hasek was born in former Czechoslovakia, a country governed by Moscow-steered communists between 1948-1989
PRAGUE: Ice hockey legend Dominik Hasek urged the National Hockey League (NHL) and other sports organisations to ban Russian athletes over the country´s invasion of Ukraine in an open letter published on Wednesday.
The 57-year-old Czech Olympic champion, Stanley Cup winner and NHL Hall of Fame member also targeted the tennis organisations ATP and WTA as well as all other "professional sports leagues, federations and organisations across the globe".
"Unless we want to support Russia´s war in Ukraine and all the horrors that come with it, we cannot allow Russian athletes to compete with us at this time," Hasek wrote in the letter on Twitter.
"The interest of the aggressive Russian policy associated with war crimes, including the genocide of Ukrainian children, is an offensive war with the aim of acquiring new territories at the expense of a democratic country.
"By allowing Russian players to enter your competitions, you have decided to support all of this.
"To this day, I have not read or heard anywhere from your side of an unequivocal condemnation of Russian aggression, including the crimes committed," he added.
Hasek was born in former Czechoslovakia, a country governed by Moscow-steered communists between 1948-1989.
He said that since Moscow´s propaganda frequently used top athletes to showcase Russia´s greatness, "every competition organized by you knowingly donates billions of dollars to Russia to advertise its aggressive policy".
"You are, therefore, fully responsible for the irreversible damage caused by the Russian army in Ukraine, including wasted lives."
Hasek had already called for all Russian players to be suspended from the NHL shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
Wimbledon banned tennis players from Russia and Belarus from this year´s edition of the tournament.
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