Border guards detain 11 Belarusians and four Russians at the karate world championship in Bielsko-Biała

In Bielsko-Biała, which hosted the Karate World Championship for cadets, juniors and under-21s from 14 to 18 October, the Border Guard detained 11 citizens of Belarus and four citizens of Russia. MOST Media reports this, citing Szymon Mościcki, spokesman for the Silesian branch of the Border Guard.

The check took place on 17 and 18 October. According to the border guards, the athletes entered Poland on tourist visas that did not match the declared purpose of their stay. The head of the unit in Bielsko-Biała issued all 15 detainees decisions obliging them to leave Poland within eight days. According to Mościcki, this is the shortest possible period.

Paweł Połtorzecki, president of the Polish Karate Union, said the organisers had received advance information that athletes from Belarus and Russia would try to get into the tournament despite restrictions by the World Karate Federation and the Ministry of Sport. The first signal was a Russian appearing at a referee course, after which the organisers turned to the border guards.

Earlier, the Beskidzka24 portal wrote that Belarusian karateka could compete under neutral status, and the results table does include athletes under a neutral flag. Whether the detainees were part of the previously announced team or registered for the championship is not reported.