“What is the code of conduct for our athletes? It’s just a complete mess!” – Chesnokov – on the conditions of participation in Wimbledon

Former world No. 9 Andrei Chesnokov, in a conversation with , called the condition for admitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to Wimbledon 2023 “a complete mess”.

The Russians and Belarusians have been suspended from the Wimbledon tournament in 2022 due to events in Ukraine. For this, the organizers of the competition were fined one million dollars, and the ATP also deprived the tournament of ranking points. Previously, there were rumors that the organizers of Wibledon 2023 might allow Russians to participate in the competition, but tennis players during the tournament would refuse any obvious show of support for their country, as well as carrying a flag or leave positive feedback about the Russian. Federation.

What is the code of conduct? First, Wimbledon has had ten months to draw up such a document and send out this instruction, and they are doing this three and a half months before the start of the tournament. Well what is it? What were you doing? Since they decided to produce such a document, they should have announced it ten months ago, and not now. If I was at the head of the federation, I would say that the athletes will not sign anything, you had ten months to do so. I think it’s just a complete mess!

But I love my country! Not because there is politics, which Wimbledon is postponed, but I love it for the exceptional people, the athletes, the writers, the artists, the musicians. I was born here and my parents too, why can’t I speak well of where I was born and where I grew up? We have already been deprived of the flag, of the anthem. What else do they need? All athletes respect each other for their achievements, not for their affiliation with politics, Chesnokov told .

Wimbledon 2023 will take place from July 3-16.