Swedish furniture giant ends Ice Hockey World Championship sponsorship over Russia ruling

AJ Products announced on Monday it will not continue as a sponsor of the Ice Hockey World Championship following the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to allow Russian participation in the event.

The furniture manufacturer, which has supported the tournament since 1989, cited the arbitration court's ruling as the reason for its withdrawal from the sponsorship arrangement.

The decision marks the end of a long-standing partnership between the Swedish company and ice hockey's premier annual competition. AJ Products had been among the championship's most consistent backers across three decades of sponsorship.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport's judgment permitting Russian involvement in the world championship has prompted the reassessment of sponsorship commitments among some international corporate partners. The exact timing of AJ Products' withdrawal and implications for the tournament's financial arrangements remain under review.