Ukraine appealed to the International Olympic Committee with evidence of support for the war of some Russian athletes who were admitted to the Olympic Games.
The corresponding letter was signed by the President of the NOC of Ukraine Vadim Gutzeit and… O. Minister of Youth and Sports Matvey Bedny.
Ukraine’s appeal to the IOC regarding athletes from the Russian Federation
The appeal states that in the midst of military aggression against Ukraine, carried out by the Russian Federation and supported by Belarus, the Ukrainian side believes that representatives of aggressor countries should not be allowed to participate in any international events and competitions in any status, including individual neutral athlete.
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Among the athletes who were allowed to compete in the Olympics are representatives of the Russian Federation and Belarus. Signatories note that these athletes support the war in Ukraine and the policies of the Russian dictator and do not meet sufficient criteria to obtain neutral athlete status.
In particular, we are talking about the following athletes:
- wrestling: Alan Ostaev, Magomed Murtazaliev, Arslan Bagaev, ex-Ukrainian Alina Kasabieva, Natalia Malysheva, Abdula Kurbanov, Nachin Mongush;
- trampoline jumping: Ivan Litvinovich, Angela Bladtseva;
- shooting: Daria Chupris (Belarus);
- cycling: Anna Tserakh (Belarus);
- taekwondo: Georgy Gurtsiev;
- swimming: Anastasia Shkurdai (Belarus);
- canoeing: Ivan Shtil, Alexey Korovashkov.
The Ukrainian side notes that the entire Russian sports community is an instrument of the Kremlin’s state policy, and athletes with Russian citizenship cannot be neutral.
This undermines the foundations of the international sports community and calls into question the fairness and impartiality of sports competitions.
Ukraine’s position remains unchanged: while Russian troops, with the support of the Belarusian government, continue to wage their brutal war against the Ukrainian people, it is necessary to introduce a ban on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in any international events and competitions in any status, including neutral status athlete.
A detailed list of athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus who were admitted to the Olympics or had their invitations rejected can be found on the IOC website.
