The tournament was scheduled for May 2023.
The French Fencing Federation (FFE) has cancelled the World Cup men’s epee tournament. This was announced by the press service on the federation’s website.
FFE has refused to hold the fencing competition after the International Fencing Federation cancelled the suspension of the athletes from Russia and Belarus in March. The the International Fencing Federation (FIE) decision will come into force in the second half of April 2023, allowing Russian and Belarusian fencers to take part in the Euro and World Championships in 2023.
After the admission of Russian and Belarusian fencers to the international sport, the Ukrainian Fencing Federation stated that it would boycott the competitions involving athletes from these countries. Instead, the Cabinet of Ministers decided that Ukrainian fencers will boycott all competitions where Russians or Belarusians compete.
More than 300 fencers from different countries of the world oppose the resumption of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international tournaments. The admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes by the FIE also caused a reaction of fencing federations of different countries. Germany refused to hold the Women’s Foil World Cup due to the admission of Russians and Belarus, and Denmark cancelled their fencing tournaments.
France stated that the organisers of the Men’s Epee Fencing World Cup cannot satisfy the request of the International Fencing Federation to let Russian and Belarusian fencers take part in the tournament. The French fencing federation announced the cancellation of the tournament less than two months before the start of the competition.
“Unable to satisfy the request of the FIE regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Fencing World Cup scheduled for May 19-21 in Saint-Maur-de-Fosse, the French Fencing Federation regrets to announce the cancellation of the 2023 Monal Challenge. Sports and public institutions have been informed of this decision,” the FFE said in a statement.
Polish Fencing Federation is ready to refuse holding fencing competitions because of the admission of Russians and Belarusians. On the other hand, Finland has cancelled the FIE satellite series tournament in Kupittaa that was scheduled for September 2023.
