Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin responded to statements by skiers from the Swedish national team, who threatened to boycott the competition if Russian athletes were admitted.
– I do not comment on individual statements. Moreover, these are not statements by officials of this or that federation. Statements that discriminate against Belarusian, Russian or other athletes and restrict their right to participate in competitions are unacceptable.
We hear positive statements that say that without Russians, world sport, such as football, biathlon, boxing or wrestling, cannot develop. Next year will be important, there will be many competitions for the Olympic Games. It all depends on the position of the International Olympic Committee, which has so far withheld recommendations aimed at preventing Russians and Belarusians from participating in international competitions, Matytsin told reporters.
Previously, Swedish skiers Lynn Swan and Maya Dahlquist announced that they were ready to boycott international competitions if Russian athletes were allowed to participate.
At the end of February, the executive committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that federations ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in competitions because of the situation in Ukraine. The International Ski Federation (FIS) has followed these recommendations. Athletes from both countries have been suspended until the end of the summer season, a decision on the winter season has yet to be made.
Source : MatchTV
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