Ukrainian runners ask for ban on Russian, Belarusian NYC Marathon racers

A group of Ukrainian runners doesn’t want to see Russian or Belarusian competitors cross the finish line at the New York City Marathon this year, collecting nearly 1,000 signatures on a petition calling for a ban.

The Ukrainian Running Club New York argued the atrocities committed by Russia since it invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 justify the prohibition. The petition states if the marathon’s organizers, the New York Road Runners, allows Russian and Belarusian runners to compete, the organization would be “implicitly normalizing … diabolical acts” by Moscow and its allies.

“The banning of Russian and Belarusian athletes from competition is not meant to be seen as a punishment against them,” said the petition, started by the Ukrainian Running Club’s founder Anna Shpook. “This petition should be seen as means to support Ukraine and take a collective responsibility!

“Russian and Belarusian athletes can join us in solidarity by not participating in this year’s events, for what pride would they have in representing their countries when their armed forces are causing these horrors?”

People running in a New York City Marathon.
The Ukrainian Running Club New York argues banning Russians is seen as a way to support the war-torn country.
Shutterstock

The petition was started after the Ukrainian running club said in a Facebook post it failed to convince NYRR to enact a ban despite reaching out to them multiple times — and even as other races around the globe prohibited Russians from their events.

But NYRR leadership insists that while it stands with Ukraine against Russia’s actions, it refuses to discriminate against runners based on their nationality or country of birth.

Picture of Ukrainian Running Club.
Some Ukrainian runners don’t want to see Russian or Belarusian racers compete at the New York City Marathon.
Ukrainian Running Club

“New York City is one of the most multicultural cities in the world where individuals of different nationalities live together.  As part of our organization’s values, NYRR welcomes runners of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities – and runners who are participating as individuals will be allowed to run in NYRR races and events,” NYRR said in a statement to The Post.

NYRR also noted it won’t allow for any official representation of Russia or Belarus at any of its races or events, including the NYC Marathon — and that “elite” Russian and Belarusian athletes haven’t been invited to or been accepted to compete in any NYRR races.

People embracing at the finish line of the NYC marathon.
The petition kicked off after the New York Road Runners didn’t ban Russians from racing.
@nycmarathon/Twitter

Any runner impacted by the war in Ukraine got a full refund for their 2022 entry fee or were allowed to defer it to next year’s marathon, NYRR said.

The NYC Marathon is set for Sunday, Nov. 6. 

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