FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
B.A.A. Policy on Russian and Belarusian Athletes
BOSTON - The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today that
Russians and Belarusians, who were accepted into the 2022 Boston Marathon
or 2022 B.A.A. 5K as part of the open registration process and are
currently residing in either country, will no longer be allowed to compete
in either event.
Russian and Belarusian citizens, who were accepted into the 2022 Boston
Marathon or 2022 B.A.A. 5K as part of the open registration process but are
not residents of either country, will be able to compete. These athletes,
however, will not be able to run under the flag of either country.
"Like so many around the world, we are horrified and outraged by what we
have seen and learned from the reporting in Ukraine," said President & CEO
of the B.A.A. Tom Grilk. "We believe that running is a global sport, and as
such, we must do what we can to show our support to the people of Ukraine."
The B.A.A., its races, and events will not recognize the country
affiliation or flag of Russia or Belarus until further notice. The 2022
Boston Marathon, B.A.A. 5K, and B.A.A. Invitational Mile do not include any
professional or invited athletes from Russia or Belarus.
The B.A.A. will make reasonable attempts to refund the athletes from Russia
or Belarus who will no longer be able to participate, within the
constraints as imposed by federal and international sanctions.
The B.A.A. will provide all Ukrainians who are registered in the 126th
Boston Marathon or the 2022 B.A.A. 5K and are unable to compete with a
refund or option to defer to a future year. The B.A.A. will reach out to
these athletes directly later this spring.
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit
organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through
sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon is the world's
oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and
supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs.
Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John
Hancock. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors,
along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and
New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., the B.A.A. running club,
or the B.A.A. High Performance Team, please visit www.baa.org.
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