Biysultan Khamzaev voices criticism of Matytsin and outlines expectations for Degtyarev
State Duma deputy Biysultan Khamzaev shared a critical assessment of the work of Russian Minister of Sport Oleg Matytsin and offered thoughts on how his successor, Mikhail Degtyarev, should organize the ministry’s approach. In a statement to socialbites.ca, Khamzaev condemned Matytsin for a stance he describes as too lenient in the face of sanctions affecting Russian sports.
According to Khamzaev, the minister did not project the needed decisive leadership. He argued that leadership in sports requires both charisma and clear resolve. Matytsin, in the deputy’s view, pursued a soft policy during a period when the country faced significant external pressure. The analyst added that the public expects concrete decisions, and with the new minister confirmed, the entire Russian sports community will be judged by actions and results, including on the international stage. The deputy noted that Russian athletes should compete only under national symbols, including the flag, coat of arms, and anthem, and asserted that the minister should oversee that policy actively.
Historically, the International Olympic Committee has weighed in on Russia and Belarusian athletes. In late February 2022, the IOC urged international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from competition. By the end of 2023 the organization shifted its stance to allow neutral participation by athletes from those countries, subject to a set of requirements and qualification criteria. This evolving context underscores the interplay between political decisions and sports governance, a dynamic that Khamzaev says the new leadership must navigate decisively.
Earlier statements from Khamzaev emphasized that Degtyarev, as the new head of the Ministry of Sports, should focus on gaining practical experience and building a robust framework for national sports policy. The deputy suggested that a more assertive, experience-driven approach would better align Russian sports with international expectations while protecting the country’s symbols and prestige on the global stage.