The IOC has announced the list of the first 14 Russian athletes who will be able to participate in the Games in the French capital in individual neutral status. Although Russian taekwondo athletes won two men’s and two women’s Olympic quotas, none of them qualified to compete in the Games.
“Today I spoke with the President of the Russian Taekwondo Union Anatoly Terekhov. He said that according to the IOC’s decision, none of our licensed athletes were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games. This decision is final and cannot be discussed or appealed. Substitutions are also not possible. Thus, none of our taekwondoists will compete in Paris.
We did a great job. The President of the Russian Taekwondo Union, employees of the organization, athletes and coaches of the team did everything possible, despite numerous obstacles. We won four licenses to participate in the Olympics, but we could not get more tickets, because we were deprived of the opportunity to earn points in the Olympic ranking. We have done everything we can under the current conditions. It is a pity that the IOC’s decision is final and cannot be revised,” Ivanov said, as quoted by RIA Novosti.
Olympic licenses were won by Maxim Khramtsov (up to 80 kg), Vladislav Larin (over 80 kg), Tatiana Minina (up to 57 kg) and Polina Khan (over 67 kg).
Source: Sport
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