The International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintains its “firmness” in sanctions against Russia and Belarus, but is “exploring ways” for athletes from those countries to return to international competition, its president, Thomas Bach, said this Wednesday.
‘Sanctions against Russia and Belarus remain in force given the current situation’ war in Ukraine provoked by the Russian invasion, the IOC leader said in an online press conference this Wednesday from Lausanne, Switzerland.
The German leader took stock of the meeting of the board of directors of the Olympic body, in which members of the highest body of the IOC “firmly” supported sanctions against the two countries, despite their opposition to the “politicization of the sport”. .
Bach reinforced that “Athletes cannot be punished for what their countries’ governments do” and said he is ready to embark on a “unifying mission”, with the intention of not penalizing those who intend to participate in international competitions.
🇧🇷[A suspensão daqueles atletas] it was not part of the sanctions, it was only a protective measure, to ensure the integrity of competitions and the athletes themselves. Some governments wanted to decide who could or couldn’t participate and threatened not to grant entry visas to their countries.”he explained.
The IOC president reaffirmed that the organization “acted against its principles” in this matter, but now wants the Olympic movement to return to the assumptions of its founding, acting “as a unifying and not dividing force”🇧🇷
Bach even read a letter sent to the IOC by the United Nations department responsible for analyzing cases of discrimination and racism, which expresses “serious concerns” about the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from the leagues because of their nationality.
ATP and WTA demand the return of Russians and Belarusians in British tournaments
The men’s ATP circuit and the women’s WTA circuit threatened the British Tennis Association (LTA) this Wednesday with suspension from all tournaments if Russian and Belarusian players are not allowed to play in 2023.
The LTA reported that it had been pressured by the ATP and WTA to allow Russian and Belarusian players to play in 2023 after being banned from the tournaments last year, adding that it was “deeply disappointed” by the “astonishing lack of empathy for the situation in Ukraine and a clear lack of understanding of the unique circumstances facing the country.
In addition, the ATP decided to fine the LTA about 953 thousand euros after banning Russian and Belarusian players from British competitions, in a unilateral decision by the local authorities, without any dialogue with the circuits and the International Federation (ITF).
The WTA fined the LTA around 713,000 euros and the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which organizes the Wimbledon tournament, a fine of 237,000 euros.
The London Grand Slam tournament, an independent competition, had also rejected Russian and Belarusian players. In response, the ATP and WTA have decided to withdraw all ranking points awarded in this tournament.
“We will prepare our response and await the outcome of our appeal against the WTA decision and sanction,” the LTA statement concluded.
Source: DN
