Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, argues that the IOC recommendations were shaped by a push to bar Russia from major global sports competitions.
She contends that the guidance on admitting Russian athletes with neutral status and no flags or national anthems is driven largely by a Western effort to curb Russia’s participation in international sports—a form of containment aimed at limiting the country’s influence in world athletics.
According to Zakharova, the policy against Russian athletes has grown stronger with each year, extending even to officials within the international sports community. She asserts that the practice contradicts the core principles of World Olympism and emphasizes that discrimination against Russians is unacceptable in any form.
Zakharova noted that the IOC Executive Committee discussed the issue of Russian and Belarusian athletes at its meeting on March 28. The organization reportedly recommended that Russians could compete only under neutral status if they did not actively support the war. Athletes connected to law enforcement or armed forces would be barred from participation.
In this context, Thomas, a former IOC president, suggested that allowing Russian athletes to compete could influence outcomes at Paris 2024, potentially affecting the performance of the Ukrainian national team in the Olympic Games. The remark underscores the ongoing debate about eligibility, neutrality, and the broader implications of geopolitics on international sport. (DEA News)