At the 2023 World Judo Championships in Doha (Qatar), the organizers of the competition kicked out fans with St. George ribbons from the stands. It is reported by the publication Inside the Games. The International Judo Federation (IJF) explained that they identified people with ribbons. After these spectators refused to remove the St. George ribbons, they were forced to leave the arena and will no longer be allowed to compete in the tournament. " Therefore, they were taken out of the stands of the arena and forbidden to come to the competition again," Photos of fans with St. George's ribbons were distributed on social networks by Ukrainian athletes, including skeletonist Vladislav Geraskevich. "

Ukrainian wrestler Zhan Beleniuk also reacted to the incident by posting on Telegram. " The 2023 World Judo Championships will be held in Doha from May 7 to 14. The Ukrainian national team announced that it would boycott the tournament after the International Judo Federation allowed Russians and Belarusians to participate in international competitions in a neutral status.

It should be noted that 14 out of 17 Russian judokas included in the application for the World Championships in Qatar are on contracts with the RF Armed Forces, CSKA and the National Guard. Earlier it was reported that eight Russians were not allowed to the 2023 World Judo Championship. Recall, on March 28, the IOC recommended that international sports federations allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in a neutral status with a number of restrictions.. Russians and Belarusians are prohibited from participating in team sports, they must also not support the war and have contracts with the armies of the aggressor states.