The national teams of the aggressor countries do not play in the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup, which is a prerequisite for qualifying for the Games
Ukrainian Tennis Federation (FTU) commented on the possible admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to Olympic Games 2024 in Paris. Despite the fact that tennis players from the aggressor countries play in a neutral status in individual competitions, they are closed to the Games.
“Last year, the Ukrainian Tennis Federation was one of the first sports organizations to respond to a full-scale invasion. On February 27, 2022, the FTU applied to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) with a demand to exclude the federations of Russia and Belarus from its membership. Already on March 1, the ITF officially announced a complete “ban” on both federations of the aggressor countries and a ban on participating in any team competitions held under the auspices of the ITF.
It cannot be said that such a decision was easy. A difficult and tense discussion of this problem took place, as a result of which the arguments of the Ukrainian side were accepted. Unfortunately, not in full, it was not possible to implement the ban on the performance of Russian and Belarusian tennis players in individual competitions.
“But the decision, in principle, closes the way for representatives of the aggressors to the Olympic Games. In order to qualify for the Games, tennis players must play at least three Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup matches in the last two seasons before the Olympics.
“Against the background of the statements of the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, who is thinking about the possible participation of Russians and Belarusians in the Games in the status of neutral athletes, starting from the fact that they play in tennis competitions, many people forget about the approved principles of selection for the Olympics.”
“The Tennis Federation of Ukraine, which exactly a year ago addressed the ITF with its demands and started fighting with Russian and Belarusian athletes, once again notes that there is no sport outside of politics! World arenas must be freed from the presence of those who, even without flags, represent countries that bleed the Ukrainian land!”
The IOC is ready to consider the possibility of admitting athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions. In this case, everyone who wishes will be required to act in a neutral status. Also, athletes should not support the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and pass a mandatory doping test.
The head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, cited the Australian Open-2023 as an example of the possibility of the participation of Russians and Belarusians, where Ukrainian Katerina Beindl played against Russian Kamilla Rakhimova. Recall that during this match, the fans in the stands demonstrated the flag of the Russian Federation.
Source: Sportarena
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