Source: Sipa USA /SOPA Images
[Saba Sports News] Danish badminton star Viktor Axelsen announced his withdrawal from the BWF World Tour Finals due to injury. Afterward, he revealed that he received a notification from the BWF requesting medical proof to avoid penalties. Axelsen expressed his dissatisfaction, noting that he had provided injury proof multiple times in the past but still faced fines, questioning whether the BWF truly cares about athletes’ health. BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund responded to Axelsen’s concerns, stating that these participation regulations have been in place for many years and are applied equally to all top players. Lund emphasized that the regulations do not force injured athletes to compete; participation includes at least one to two days of event-related activities, such as media appearances and commercial events. Athletes who cannot compete due to serious injuries may be exempt from fines at BWF’s discretion; however, if an athlete’s condition allows them to participate but they refuse to engage in related activities, they will face a 5,000 fine. Thus, the BWF fined Axelsen 5,000. Lund reiterated that the BWF has never required athletes to compete while injured, and the rule system includes a ranking protection policy aimed at helping athletes who have been sidelined due to injuries maintain competitiveness upon their return. In my view, top athletes can earn substantial income through competitions and sponsorship, making the $5,000 fine relatively reasonable and not overly burdensome.