The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) decided earlier this year that contestants from Russia and Belarus are allowed to participate in WDSF events as “neutral individuals”, but the Finnish executive committee decided otherwise.
The executive committee of the Finnish Dance Sport Federation (FDSF) made a unanimous decision in August: the federation will not send contestants to prominent competitions where the organizer allows contestants from Russia or Belarus to participate as neutral individuals. This decision covers athletes sent with the federation’s financial support and athletes participating at their own expense.
The same decision affects Finnish judges working internationally. A judge cannot officiate and represent Finland in contests that have Russian or Belarusian participants, either as representatives of their nation or as neutral individuals.
FDSF’s policy is an act of solidarity towards Ukraine and reflects the federation’s opinion on the discussion of whether Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to participate in international sporting events.
When a contest invitation arrives, FDSF personnel will contact the organiser and ask whether they allow Russian and Belarusian contestants as neutral individuals. If the answer is positive, unclear, or not received at all, the federation will act as outlined above. Only after confirmation will the federation invite contestants to the competition.
The World DanceSport Federation argued that their decision to allow Russian and Belarusian contestants as neutral individuals is because, as an athletic federation, they do not take a stand on political issues. After this decision was made, athletes from both countries can take part in international competitions as so-called neutral individuals if the contest organiser allows it. However, representatives from Finland do not participate in such events.