Russian President Vladimir Putin called the exclusion of Russians from tournaments ethnic discrimination. The head of state added that the games themselves were being used as an instrument of political pressure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his speech at the “Russia – a Sporting Power” forum that the ban on Russian athletes participating in international competitions represents ethnic discrimination against Russia.
“Thanks to some leaders of the modern International Olympic Committee, we have learnt that an invitation to the games is not an unconditional right of the best athletes, but some kind of privilege and it can be earned not by sporting results, but by some political gestures that have nothing to do with sport at all,” Putin said.
The Russian leader added that the games themselves are used as an instrument of political pressure against people who have nothing to do with politics. In fact, Putin noted, what is happening represents ethnic discrimination against Russia.
On 28 March, the International Olympic Committee recommended to allow Belarusians and Russians, who did not support the special operation in Ukraine, to compete in a neutral status. At the same time, athletes from Russia and Belarus who are associated with the armed forces or security bodies of their countries are recommended to be suspended from participating in the competitions.
On 12 October, the IOC announced the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee until further notice following the inclusion of the Olympic councils of the DNR, LNR, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions in the Russian organization. At the same time, the IOC noted that it reserved the right to make a decision on the admission of Russian athletes to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris at the necessary time.