Tretiak steps down
by Martin Merk|17 MAR 2021
Former Olympic and World Champion Vladislav Tretiak with his jersey. He served on the IIHF Council from 2012 to 2021.
photo: Jani Rajamaki / Europhoto
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Vladislav Tretiak has resigned from his position as an IIHF Council member and from IIHF Committees following the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) ruling in the case WADA v. RUSADA.

Tretiak was elected to the IIHF Council in 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and has served as President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation since 2006. As a goaltender, the 68-year-old won three Olympic gold medals and ten World Championships with the Soviet Union. He was among the first members of the IOC Athletes Committee and has also served in and chaired several IIHF committees.

“The Russian Ice Hockey Federation has always respected the decisions of international sports authorities and does not want to put additional pressure on its long-term partners from the International Ice Hockey Federation. For this reason, I have decided to resign as a member of the IIHF Council,” Tretiak said. “At the same time, I will continue to work on the comprehensive development of Russian hockey and strengthening its position I the international arena.”

According to the CAS ruling, representatives of the Government of the Russian Federation may not be appointed to or currently sit as members of the boards or committees of any signatory during the two-year period. Although Tretiak is an elected parliamentarian of the State Duma, he also falls under this category in the CAS ruling 4.b.ii, which includes “Members of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, including both the Upper House (the Federation Council) and the Lower House (the State Duma).”

“This is a sad day for international hockey. With Vladislav Tretiak, a personality with the highest accomplishments on and off the ice has been forced to leave the IIHF Council. It speaks to his character and integrity that he offered his resignation to prevent the IIHF Council from facing complications in connection with the CAS ruling and WADA compliancy,” said IIHF President RenĂ© Fasel. “While he is leaving the IIHF Council, Tretiak will certainly remain an important member of our international ice hockey family.”

With Tretiak’s resignation, the IIHF Council will continue with 12 voting members during the current term. The next elections for the new IIHF Council term are scheduled at the 2021 IIHF Semi-Annual Congress in autumn 2021.

Furthermore the IIHF Council discussed options concerning the Russian national anthem, flag and jersey at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships of the men’s senior and women’s senior category during the two-year ban to be worked on with all involved stakeholders.