President of the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) Viktor Maygurov on described as unacceptable the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the admission of Russians to tournaments.
The IOC’s executive committee on Tuesday announced recommendations for the admission of Russian athletes to international competitions. Recommendations include individual eligibility, neutral status, no team events, no entry for athletes associated with law enforcement.
The International Biathlon Union (IBU) then told that it was open to dialogue on the possible return of Russians and Belarusians to competitions, but due to the current situation it was not yet time to reconsider the decision to suspend.
– What is the first reaction to the IOC’s decision? How should we react?
– In the form in which the IOC presented the demands, they are unacceptable, not justified. We haven’t violated anything, including the Olympic Charter. We do not consider the criteria set separately, but all together. I think the dialogue will continue. Now the world championship among the military, among the leading countries, is taking place. I do not see what is the difference between ours and, for example, the Norwegians.
In many countries, biathletes represent law enforcement. It’s been like that for a long time.
– Why is the position of the IBU so stubborn?
This organization has always been the most conservative. They always put us off. Everything also depends on their executive committee, representatives of North America and Scandinavia sit there and display an anti-Russian position. They do what they are told.
– What about the dismissal of Russian athletes from law enforcement in the name of performance?
“We in the RRF cannot tell them what to do. We won’t decide that,” Maygurov said on MatchTV’s “There’s a Theme!” show.
In February last year, the IOC Executive Board recommended federations not to invite Russians and Belarusians to compete due to the situation in Ukraine. In many sports, athletes from both countries were suspended from starts, some federations allowed them to be neutral without national symbols. Subsequently, IOC chief Thomas Bach opposed political influence on sport and any proposal to treat Russian athletes as bearers of collective guilt.
Source : MatchTV
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