The Russian Wrestling Federation (FSBR) explained the decision to refuse Russian athletes from participating in the Paris Olympics by saying that wrestlers and coaches did not agree with the unsportsmanlike principle of selection.
On Saturday, the FSBR announced that Russian wrestlers who received an invitation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had refused to participate in the Olympic Games. The decision was made following a comprehensive meeting with the coaches of the Russian national freestyle, women’s and Greco-Roman wrestling teams, as well as with the athletes.
— The Russian Wrestling Federation, athletes and coaches of the Russian national teams in freestyle, women’s and Greco-Roman wrestling will not follow the example of politicians and will not allow the spirit of the Russian team to be broken, we do not accept unsportsmanlike behavior, the principle of selection that guided the International Olympic Committee when forming the list of admitted athletes, the purpose of which is to undermine the principle of unity of our team.
The Russian Wrestling Federation has always been and remains open to a fair and uncompromising struggle in open and equal relations. We are convinced that the absolute majority of the wrestling world supports us. Any reasonable person understands that the status of the Olympic Games as the most important sporting event is in question, wrestling competitions without Russian athletes will be incomplete, and the champions will not have the satisfaction of winning the Olympic tournament, a statement on the federation’s website says.
In June, the IOC admitted 10 Russian wrestlers to the 2024 Games on neutral status, including Nachyn Mongush, Shamil Mamedov Arslan Bagaev, Abdulla Kurbanov, Alan Ostaev, Magomed Murtazaliev, Natalya Malysheva, Veronika Chumikova, Alina Kasabieva and Elizaveta Petlyakova. Later, Chumikova announced that she would not go to the Olympics for health reasons. At the same time, Olympic champions Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Zaurbek Sidakov and Musa Evloev were not included in the number of people admitted to participate in the Games.
In February 2022, the IOC recommended that sports federations not allow Russians and Belarusians to participate in international tournaments. Later, the recommendations were softened, and in December 2023, IOC chief Thomas Bach said that the organization would allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who had passed the selection process to the 2024 Summer Games in an individual neutral status. Compliance with the selection criteria is confirmed by a special IOC commission.
The games in Paris will take place from July 26 to August 11.
FSBR
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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.
