The International Ice Hockey Federation will decide on Dec. 6 whether or not China’s men’s ice hockey team should be allowed to compete at the Beijing Winter Olympics amid concerns over the team’s quality.
Being the host nation of the 2022 Winter Olympics, China is guaranteed a place to compete in every event, but hockey’s governing body has deemed it has an “insufficient sporting standard” when it comes to ice hockey, according to Reuters.
The IIHF will review the eligibility of players hoping to represent China on the ice after hockey’s governing body demonstrated serious concerns regarding China’s ability to compete, the governing body said.
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The IIHF’s decision was initially set to be released on Thursday.
It would have been based heavily on the play of the Kunlun Red Star, IIHF President Luc Tardif said.
The Red Star is a Chinese-based team playing in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, which many consider the second-best league in the world.
No decision was made on Thursday because the IIHF announced the status of the Chinese national team requires further examination.
“During a meeting on Nov. 26, the IIHF Council received a report from the expert group assigned to review all potentially eligible players that might be included on the Chinese men’s national team roster,” an IIHF spokesperson said.
The Chinese Ice Hockey Association gave the IIHF its most up-to-date player eligibility documents Friday, including those for new players previously unaddressed.
“These documents, together with the expert evaluation report, will be reviewed over the coming weeks before the council reconvenes to determine further actions,” the spokesperson said. “The status of the Chinese men’s national team is unchanged.”
Currently, the Chinese men’s national team is ranked No. 32 in the world, and, if they are allowed to compete, would be placed in a group with Canada, ranked No. 1, and the United States, ranked No. 4.
If China’s status is deemed “insufficient” to compete, it will be replaced by Norway, ranked No. 11.
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The 2022 Winter Olympics are set to begin on Feb. 4.
