None of the Russian and Belarusian boxers condemned the actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine
Ukrainian boxing community addressed to the President World Boxing Association (WBA) Gilberto Mendoza due to return of Russian and Belarusian boxers to the ratings of the organization.
“Mr. Mendoza, You may have forgotten (or not heard), but the war in Ukraine continues! At a time when the WBA is making shameful decisions for the entire civilized world to restore the positions of the boxers of a terrorist country in the ratings and authorize fights with their participation, our state is subjected to missile attacks EVERY DAY and suffers from open genocide by Russia.
“You said that the athletes of Russia and Belarus have nothing to do with the war in Ukraine… So what is the Russian company Mir Boxa doing among the partners of the WBA Congress this year? Was it not her top boxers Alexander Povetkin and Ruslan Provodov who justified the war in Ukraine? Didn’t the guides say that he was ready to go to Ukraine to fight?”
“A shame! The oldest boxing organization in the world, ignoring common sense from the very beginning of the war, plays along with the terrorist country! A country whose hands are smeared on the shoulder with the blood of thousands of Ukrainians! Those who openly support the war are not eligible to participate in any international competition for the rest of their lives.”
“A few weeks ago, the International Olympic Committee decided not to lift sanctions on Russian and Belarusian athletes while the war in Ukraine continues. And at the annual WBC World Congress, the sanctions were tightened and extended.”
“We urge you not to become an accomplice of evil, because, unfortunately, almost all Russian and Belarusian boxers tacitly support the policies of their dictators. None of them condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine.”
Recall that the WBA decided to return Russian and Belarusian boxers to the rating lists of the organization. The statement says that the athletes are not military, and therefore have nothing to do with the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine.
In March, the WBA excluded boxers from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus from the association’s ratings. The WBA, as well as the World Boxing Organization (WBO), the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) have said they will not sanction fights and tournaments in Russia.
Russia’s war against Ukraine continues for the 294th day.
Source: Sportarena
