Two-time Olympic boxing champion Oleg Saitov told that he could understand athletes participating in the Olympics under a neutral flag, but without abandoning their country.
At the end of March, the IOC announced recommendations for the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions. Recommendations include individual admission, neutral status, banning participation in team sports, and banning the participation of athletes associated with security forces or who have expressed support for the SVO. The IOC said a decision on admitting Russians to the Games would be made at the “appropriate time.”
In October 2022, the International Boxing Association (IBA) lifted restrictions on Russians and Belarusians; athletes compete with the flag and anthem.
“If athletes wish to participate in the Olympic Games under a neutral flag, that is their choice. Well, I don’t see anything directly bad. But now there are other conditions in the form of signing certain documents by which you renounce your country. I don’t mind if the athletes just participate under a neutral flag, but if something has to be signed… Then that’s no longer the case. This is a kind of betrayal, abandonment of the country,” Saitov told on the sidelines of the “Russia is a sports power” forum.
From October 19 to 22, the international sports forum “Russia is a sports power” will take place in Perm.
Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
