IIHF strips Russia of 2023 World Championship

Russia will no longer host next year's ice hockey World Championship.

The IIHF is withdrawing the nation's hosting rights "out of concern for the safety and well-being of all participating players, officials, media, and fans."

The governing body of international hockey made the decision at a council meeting Tuesday. The tournament would've taken place in Saint Petersburg from May 5-21, 2023. The IIHF will select a new host during the upcoming Worlds in Finland next month.

In late February, just days after the invasion of Ukraine began, the IIHF removed Russia as host of the 2023 World Junior Championship. No new host has been chosen yet for that event.

The IOC had called for stripping Russia of hosting rights to all international sporting events in the wake of the invasion.

The IIHF tabbed Russia as the host of the 2023 Worlds in 2019.

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