New Delhi, Nov. 1 -- BRATISLAVA - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has welcomed a sports court ruling clearing Russian teams to return to international ice hockey, arguing that championships lose sporting value when leading competitors are excluded.

His intervention follows the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision overturning the International Ice Hockey Federation's exclusion of Russian teams from five specified championships. The ruling takes effect immediately, but it does not mean teams can begin playing without the federation arranging their participation.

The distinction matters for the next international season. Russia has a legal route back into the competitions covered by the decision, while schedules, tournament formats ...