FTU: NOC decision will lead to the destruction of Ukrainian tennis

Ukrainian Tennis Federation applied to the NOC and the Ministry of Youth and Sports and explained her position on the participation of Ukrainian tennis players in matches against Russians and Belarusians.

“The Tennis Federation of Ukraine, together with the leading players of the national tennis teams of Ukraine, appeals to the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine with a general statement about a possible ban on Ukrainian athletes from participating in competitions to which representatives of aggressor countries are allowed.”

“The International Tennis Federation was the first of the largest federations to stop the membership of the national federations of Russia and Belarus. The teams of these countries are disqualified in all team competitions without exception, including the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup, where the Russians were the defending champions of both competitions.

“The admission of individual athletes is made only under a neutral white flag. The ATP and WTA professional tennis tours supported this decision and introduced the same restrictions. Unfortunately, despite all the attempts of the Ukrainian Tennis Federation and professional players, the governing bodies of tennis have not removed individual athletes.”

“With this appeal, we express a common position regarding the possible decision of the NOC on a complete boycott by the players of all international tournaments where Russians or Belarusians play. Such a decision will lead to the destruction of Ukrainian tennis, because players from these countries take part in almost every competition. Such a decision will become a sanction not against the aggressors, but against the Ukrainians, each at their own level promoting a pro-Ukrainian position in every corner of the world where they play.”

“We may lose a serious leverage in the information war, we will not be able to cover all the horrors that have been happening in our country over the past year. We believe that everyone should be useful in their place. If you deprive tennis players of the opportunity to compete, it means losing one of the sectors of the front.

“If Russians and Belarusians are allowed to compete, you need to play with them and win, and not avoid the battle. As do our guys in the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the front and all conscious citizens, each in his place.

“We stand with the position to continue to compete in international competitions, to intensify the fight for the removal of players from Russia and Belarus. Beat them on courts all over the world.”

“We must promote our common ideas and values ​​around the world and help the Armed Forces. To help the Ukrainians who suffered from a terrible war, as much as anyone can do.

The statement, in particular, was signed by Angelina Kalinina, Dayana Yastremskaya, Katarina Zavatskaya, Nadezhda Kichenok, Alexander Ovcharenko, Vladislav Orlov, Ilya Beloborodko.

Earlier, the FTU signed the text of the appeal of the sports federations of Ukraine to the IOC in order to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in international competitions. This appeal was adopted at a meeting of Olympic sports federations with the participation of the head of the NOC of Ukraine, Vadym Gutzeit.

Recall that the IOC is ready to consider the possibility of admitting athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions. At the same time, 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 IOC believes that a complete ban on the performance of Russian and Belarusian athletes is discrimination and is contrary to the Olympic Charter. The organizers of the 2024 Olympics in Paris said they would adhere to the decision of the IOC to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete under a neutral flag.