Ukraine’s national motorsport authority has intensified its challenge to the FIA after the governing body lifted restrictions that had prevented Russian and Belarusian competitors from taking part in international events.
The Ukrainian Automobile Federation (FAU) has lodged an appeal with the FIA Court of Appeal, the organisation’s highest judicial authority. The move comes three days after the FAU also requested an urgent investigation by the FIA ethics committee.
Restrictions on Russian and Belarusian individuals had been in place since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The FIA removed the ban on 3 August after the International Olympic Committee adopted a similar change concerning athletes from the two countries.
International motorsport events are still prohibited from being staged in Russia or Belarus.
FAU Points to Russian Federation Activity in Occupied Ukraine
A central part of the Ukrainian federation’s case concerns the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF), which the FAU says has established and operates offices in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.
The areas cited include Crimea, Sevastopol and parts of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. The United Nations continues to recognise those territories as part of sovereign Ukraine.
According to the FAU, the RAF’s activity there conflicts with FIA statutes and the International Sporting Code, which provide for a single recognised automobile authority in each country.
FAU president Oleksandr Feldman argues that a Russian governing body cannot legitimately extend its authority into internationally recognised Ukrainian territory through occupation. The federation says it intends to use the legal mechanisms available within the FIA system to challenge both the RAF’s conduct and the decision to ease restrictions on Russian and Belarusian participation.
Ukraine Says FIA Decision Creates Wider Sporting Problems
The FAU also argues that allowing Russian and Belarusian competitors to return could create difficulties for Ukrainian participants and athletes from countries that impose their own restrictions on events involving Russian national symbols.
Ukraine maintains that the FIA’s decision may therefore have consequences extending beyond Russian and Belarusian competitors themselves, potentially limiting where athletes from other nations are willing or legally able to compete.
The Ukrainian federation has also highlighted the effect of the war on domestic motorsport. It says 23 Ukrainian competitors and officials have been killed since the invasion began, while racing activity and freedom of movement have been severely disrupted across the country.
The FAU additionally drew attention to RAF president Boris Rotenberg, noting that he is subject to sanctions imposed by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and other jurisdictions in connection with Russia’s actions against Ukraine.
FIA Maintains Ban on Events in Russia and Belarus
The decision to change the participation rules was approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. BBC Sport previously reported, citing sources, that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem proposed the move.
The FIA said its revised policy followed the IOC’s July decision and similar changes adopted by other international sporting organisations.
Although restrictions on individual Russian and Belarusian participants have been relaxed, the FIA continues to prohibit international competitions from being organised in either country.
The governing body has said it will continue assessing developments in Ukraine and could revise its position again if circumstances change.
The FAU’s appeal now places the dispute before the FIA Court of Appeal while its separate request for an ethics investigation remains another potential avenue for challenging the governing body’s handling of the issue.