President of the International Boxing Association (IBA) Umar Kremlev said that all sports organizations must allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions, calling for the sports sector to be excluded from politics, and also referred to the situation with the withdrawal of the Ukrainian federation.
Previously, the IBA suspended the activities of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation due to government interference in its work. Ukrainian boxers came to the European Junior Championships, but did not compete in Montesilvano, Italy, as previously the International Federation Council had banned them from competing under the national flag due to the federation ban . Russians and Belarusians are currently not allowed to participate in international competitions in most sports.
– The board voted to abolish the Ukrainian National Federation, not the athletes. In its decision, the IBA Board of Directors exempted Ukrainian athletes from disqualification and further provided for the coverage of expenses of Ukrainian athletes for their participation in official IBA championships. The details of their participation and the use of national badges have already been agreed. I repeat that all boxers should be allowed to compete under their national flag no matter what. Boxers do not fight for medals, but to represent their country. Sport is outside politics: where it begins, politics ends. The IBA is there to protect every boxer, regardless of the political situation in their home country.
The time has now come to allow all other athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in all official competitions of their sport, representing their country. The IOC and IFs must protect all athletes and there must be no discrimination based on nationality. It is our common duty to keep sports and athletes out of politics. The IBA and I are personally ready to follow such a joint initiative, and I urge everyone to seize this opportunity and keep our athletes out of politics,” Kremlev was quoted as saying by the press service. of the IBA.
Source : MatchTV
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