Wednesday 2 March 2022, early in the afternoon, the UTMB Group published a press release informing of its intention to “immediately suspend Russian and Belarusian athletes from all events operating under the UTMB® brand, i.e. the 25 UTMB® World Series events including the UTMB® Mont-Blanc from 22 to 28 August”, until further notice.
Among the penalized ultra-trail runners, we find the Russian runner Dmitry Mityaev (30 years old),
Skyrunning and ultra-trail athlete, Dmitry won the High Trail Vanoise in 2018. He is considered one of the best runners of his generation in races involving high altitude passages.
UTMB Group: statement concerning the situation in Ukraine
Considering the ongoing situation in Ukraine caused by the unprovoked Russian invasion, UTMB Group, including all 25 events of the UTMB® World Series, have confirmed the immediate suspension of all Russian and Belarusian athletes from events under the UTMB® brand until further notice.
UTMB Group is deeply concerned and shocked about the recent developments in the country, and while we regret penalizing athletes who have trained hard, this decision reflects our solidarity with Ukraine and its people, our belief in need to protect the integrity of sport, and our condemnation of the atrocities being committed by Russian leadership.
With immediate effect, UTMB Group will also remove the label of 'UTMB® World Series Qualifier' from all trail running events organized locally in Russia and Belarus that have previously been given the status.
Sport is a force for good, and the UTMB® brand connects people all over the world through shared values of solidarity, inclusion and fairness. UTMB Group deeply hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that trail running and our events can again provide the means for unity.
This decision is in line with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommendation that all Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be allowed to participate in any international competitions following the invasion of Ukraine.
We offer our full assistance to all Ukrainian runners who have entered our events and will support each individuals entry in whatever way we can. On behalf of all events under the UTMB® brand, we send a strong message of support to our friends in Ukraine during this period.
