Boxers of the national team refused to go to the Olympics in Tokyo without a national flag, general secretary of the Boxing Federation of Russia Umar Kremlev told.
On Monday, the executive committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced the removal of Russian athletes from participating in major international sports competitions. WADA explained that only “pure” athletes will be allowed to the next Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as to World Championships, while they will compete in neutral status – without the country’s flag and anthem. For four years, Russia will also lose the right to hold major international competitions and submit applications for their holding.
“The guys are asking through the courts to get the right to fly the flag. Now we need to look at the steps of the ROC and RUSADA, but we ourselves will analyze the possibility of challenging this decision. <…> For us, the most important thing is that our boxers appear under the flag of Russia and sound our anthem. Without this, there is no sense in participation, “said the Kremlin.
It was previously reported that the country will apply for the European Boxing Championship in 2021 in Chelyabinsk and the World Cup in 2020.
“I think we need to come to some kind of agreement with WADA in order to host the World Cup and the European Championship in Russia. I have said many times that Russia is a great sports power, all tournaments in our country are held at the highest level. few stand the bar, “added the Kremlin.
He expressed the opinion that what happened was not the problem of Russia, but of the whole world sport, and it was not necessary to blame the country, but “someone specifically or a specific federation.”