Ukrainian karatekas - Yevgeni and Darya Filipyuk, did not return to their country after a tournament in Venice, Italy, at the end of December.
"Report" reports that this was announced by the president of the Chernivtsi Karate Federation, Alexander Pikulin.
The president said in a statement to a local TV channel that the karatekas, who are husband and wife, deleted all their personal accounts on social networks and do not answer calls, and that other athletes' attempts to contact them were also unsuccessful.
The Ukrainian Karate Federation has expelled both athletes from membership on the grounds that they did not return to the country and violated mobilization rules. The organization announced that it would demand from the World Karate Federation their lifetime disqualification and deprivation of all the awards they have won.