Russia stops athletes in Putin's favorite sport, judo, from entering global competitions saying it is scared for their safety

• Russia has chosen to withdraw from international judo competitions citing athlete safety fears.
• Following the invasion of Ukraine, the IJF said Russian athletes could only compete under a neutral flag.

Russia has chosen to withdraw its athletes from international judo competitions citing fears for their safety amid the fraught international atmosphere after the invasion of Ukraine.

Following Russia's invasion, the International Judo Federation (IJF) cancelled its events in Russia, however did not ban Russian athletes, saying it would allow them to compete under a neutral flag — a move also taken up by a number of other sports.

The Russian Judo Federation (FDR), however, said in a statement Monday that it was suspending it athletes from competing.

"Under the current conditions, the national team's access to most countries where international competitions are held is significantly difficult," the FDR said.

"In addition, the Russian Judo Federation has reason to fear for the safety of Russian athletes." The federation did not provide any specific evidence of threats or safety concerns in its statement.

The Belarusian Judo Federation (BJF) has also withdrawn its athletes from IJF competitions. Belarus, a key ally of Moscow, has been used as a staging ground for the invasion.

The IJF responded to the news of Russia's and Belarus' withdrawals with a statement on its website in which it acknowledged the withdrawal, but didn't comment further.

"Following official communications received by the International Judo Federation, the Russian Judo Federation and the Belarusian Judo Federation have suspended their participation from all IJF and EJU [European Judo Union] international events," the statement read.

"There will be no Russian or Belarusian athletes participating in IJF and EJU events, with immediate effect."

The FDR did not immediately respond to Insider's request for further comment on the issue.

Judo is the favorite sport of Vladimir Putin.

The Russian president and eighth dan black belt was named as the Honorary President of the IJF in 2008, but his title was withdrawn early in March after he ordered Russian troops into Ukraine.

A statement from the organization on March 6 said Putin had "been removed from all positions held in the International Judo Federation." He had previously been suspended on February 27.

Addressing its decision to cancel its event in Russia but allow the country's athletes to compete under a neutral flag, the IFJ said at the beginning of March: "As sporting events and sport itself promote peace and solidarity worldwide, we consider that those athletes who participate in international sporting events are promoting peace and international solidarity.

"On this basis, the global decision to sanction all Russian athletes, regardless of the different opinions many have expressed, is not considered to be justified.

"Any radical decision to obstruct the participation of athletes in sporting competitions would only continue the escalation of violence and nurture the feeling of injustice for those athletes who did not participate in any decision regarding the conflict.

"We cannot condemn the athletes for what is happening."