Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Nikolai Valuev called the decision of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) regarding the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) absurd, saying that Russian athletes are not involved in political processes and are not involved in the situation in Ukraine.
On Tuesday, the IBU’s executive committee recommended to the Congress to extend the suspension of the membership of the RBU and the Belarusian Biathlon Federation (BFB) from the organization due to the situation in Ukraine. The Executive Committee believes that the lifting of sanctions is possible if organizations demonstrate a commitment to support and promote the aims and principles of the IBU, in particular, distance themselves from the conflict in Ukraine and do not allow athletes to actively participate to the actions of the Russian army.
– This is a normal international practice, and not only Russian or Belarusian, because there are military personnel among our athletes, as well as among athletes from foreign countries who are members of the IBU. A very strange reference, because athletes are attached to the armed forces in order to transfer salaries more constantly, there is a definition of experience, a lot of bonuses.
This reference does not work at all, because, as a rule, athletes are not involved at all in the political processes that take place in the countries. Our athletes are in no way involved in what is happening in Ukraine. At least, in fact and physically, they do not participate in it in any way. A very absurd statement. The current situation concerns them only because they are citizens of Russia and Belarus, Valuev said on the air of the program “There is a theme!” on MatchTV.
The deputy also noted that in the absence of Russians at international tournaments, sports will be impoverished.
It looks like some kind of discrimination. Athletes themselves, for the most part, do not accept this story, because they need to perform. Competitiveness and competitiveness will suffer, there will be an impoverishment of sport, a lack of competition, from which the strongest athletes, who are our biathletes, will be eliminated, – added Valuev.
In early March, the IBU suspended Russians and Belarusians from participating in competitions under the auspices of the organization. Subsequently, the IBU suspended the membership of the RRF and the ESB.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
