Danil Lysenko, the Russian pole vaulter, spoke about admission to international competitions and the potential provocations he could face if he competes abroad. His remarks were reported by RIA News.
He noted that in tennis and other sports, athletes from Russia have competed under neutral conditions. He himself competed neutrally in 2017 and 2018, he recalled, and he said that the flag or the uniform did not erase what people already knew about his Russian identity. The atmosphere at that time was different, yet he acknowledged that the current situation carries greater complexity. If there were no strict eligibility criteria today, he would consider accepting talks on participation, he stated.
The broader context is that Russian and Belarusian athletes have faced suspensions from competitions since March 2022 amid a special military operation in Ukrainian territory. The decision followed recommendations issued by the International Olympic Committee to exclude athletes from these countries from international events. In this ongoing debate, observers point to the tension between national representation and the desire to maintain opportunities for elite athletes to compete on the world stage. [Citation: IOC guidance and subsequent embargo details, as reported by international sports press.]
Former IOC president Thomas Bach had named Chushpan in discussions surrounding the matter. [Citation: historical statements and positions related to the governance of international sport.]