• Dominik Hasek has called for a ban on Russian athletes from the NHL and other sports.
• The 57-year-old wrote an open letter to the ATP and WTA tennis organizations.
• He was born in Czechoslovakia, a country ruled by communists under Moscow’s direction until 1989.

Dominik Hasek, a legend of ice hockey, wrote an open letter condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calling for a ban on Russian athletes from the National Hockey League and other sports organisations.

The 57-year-old Czech Olympic gold medalist, NHL Hall of Famer, and Stanley Cup winner also went after the ATP and WTA tennis organizations.

Hasek wrote on Twitter “Unless we want to support Russia´s war in Ukraine and all the horrors that come with it, we cannot allow Russian athletes to compete with us at this time,”

“The interest of the aggressive Russian policy associated with war crimes, including the genocide of Ukrainian children, is an offensive war with the aim of acquiring new territories at the expense of a democratic country.

“By allowing Russian players to enter your competitions, you have decided to support all of this.
However, “To this day, I have not read or heard anywhere from your side of an unequivocal condemnation of Russian aggression, including the crimes committed,” he continued.

Hasek was born in what was then Czechoslovakia, a country ruled by communists under Moscow’s direction from 1948 until 1989.

He claimed that “every competition hosted by you intentionally provides billions of dollars to Russia to flaunt its aggressive agenda” due to Moscow’s regular use of star athletes to promote Russia’s glory in its propaganda.

As a result, “you are totally liable for the irrevocable damage perpetrated by the Russian army in Ukraine,” including squandered lives.

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Hasek was among the first to advocate for a ban on all Russian players in the NHL.

This year, Wimbledon did not let any tennis players from Russia or Belarus to compete.

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