Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has called for the removal of athletes from Russia and Belarus from international tournaments. Transmits words ESPN.
“Over the past year, we have struggled to exclude Russians and Belarusians from our sport, not just in the media. Unfortunately, we are not independent players. We work for WTA and ATP, we don’t have much power to make changes.
For example, we cannot boycott contests as a sign of protest because we have a rating system. If I don’t participate in tournaments, I will fall in the rankings and my career will be over,” said Kostyuk.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in tournaments subject to neutral status. Wimbledon was the only tournament that refused the participation of representatives of Russia and Belarus.
On 28 March, Switzerland hosted the first day of the IOC Executive Committee meeting, which discussed the issue of the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions.
The organization recommended that the Russians be allowed to remain in a neutral status if the athletes did not actively support the war. Athletes representing law enforcement and armed forces will not be allowed to compete.
Former IOC spokesman Mark Adams He insisted sports federations should immediately solve the problem of accepting athletes from Russia.