Olympic champion in cross-country skiing, Veronika Stepanova, criticized the International Olympic Committee’s recommendations when it comes to admitting Russian athletes to international competitions, describing them as derogatory and harmful to the spirit of fair play.
Stepanova stated that she has made her choice, noting that the presented circumstances appear humiliating. She described the process as a real filtering of athletes by political views and professions, and she remarked that the conditions proposed by the IOC are unacceptable. The statement was reported by Match TV and highlights a broader debate within elite sport about eligibility, neutrality, and the balance between political sanctions and athletic performance.
To recap the timeline: at the end of February 2022 the International Olympic Committee issued guidance to international sports federations advising against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in most competitions. This stance reflected the IOC’s aim to respond to international events and political tensions by limiting the presence of athletes from those nations on the world stage.
Later, during an IOC executive committee meeting held on March 28, there was a pivot toward allowing Russians to compete under a neutral status, provided the athletes did not actively support hostilities. The policy also specified that athletes associated with law enforcement and armed forces would not be permitted to participate while the neutrality framework remained in effect. This set of decisions exemplified the ongoing tension between sanctions, athlete eligibility, and the evolving rules governing neutrality in global sport.
Sofia Prosvirnova, a former five-time European champion and a four-time sprint world champion, has also weighed in on related discussions. Her public remarks have touched on questions about national representation, training environments, and the pressures athletes face when choosing training affiliations or residency arrangements in response to geopolitical developments. Some athletes have sought opportunities with other national teams or training groups as a way to maintain high competitive standards while navigating the sanctions landscape and eligibility rules that vary by sport and federation.