Ukraine’s government is warning athletes they will be forced to boycott Olympic qualifying events if the Russians participate, as the row over IOC recommendations intensifies.
- The International Olympic Committee recommended that the athletes be readmitted
- Ukraine responded by saying that the athletes should boycott qualifying events
- State sports bodies that fail to heed the warnings can be penalized
The Ukrainian government has told its athletes that they must boycott the Olympics qualifiers if the Russians participate.
The International Olympic Committee has recommended that individuals from Russia and Belarus be allowed to compete under a neutral flag despite Ukraine’s war.
But this has prompted a backlash from a group of leading nations, with now Vadym Gotzet, Ukraine’s sports minister and head of their Olympic committee, suggesting decisive action.
Ukrainian government minister Oleh Nemchinov announced: “A protocol decision was made on Gutzeit’s suggestion that we participate in the qualifiers (for the 2024 Olympics) only if there are no Russians.”
The International Olympic Committee has recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be re-admitted under a neutral flag
Protests broke out and now the Ukrainian government has made it clear what action it will take
Nemchinov also warned that any Ukrainian sports body that ignored its ruling could be subject to sanctions.
He added: “Participation that exceeds these criteria can be grounds for depriving federations of their national status.
“I want to tell our fellow athletes who are worried that due to the actions of the IOC and the entry of Russians or Belarusians into the competitions, therefore, the Ukrainians will not be able to participate, their careers will collapse,” said Nemchinov. “But your life and the lives of your children will survive.”
Reluctant to exclude Russians and Belarusians from Paris for fear of returning to Cold War-era boycotts, the IOC set a course in January to earn Olympic slots through the Asian Qualifiers to compete as neutral athletes.
Some federations have readmitted Russians and Belarusians to competitions, but there is also significant opposition to the IOC’s plans on the part of athletes and some European governments.
