MOSCOW, Apr 26 President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) ) Ian Hewitt said at a press conference that the decision not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Wimbledon tournament is not discrimination, his words are quoted by journalist James Gray on his Twitter. Last week, Wimbledon organizers refused Russian and Belarusian tennis players to participate in competitions because of the situation in Ukraine. Players from Russia and Belarus have also been banned from participating in UK lawn tournaments under the auspices of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
"After careful consideration of many factors, we came to two conclusions that formed the basis of our decision. First, even if we were to accept applications from Russian and Belarusian players with written statements, there would be a risk that their success or participation in the tournament would be used in the interests of their country. Secondly, we must ensure that our actions do not jeopardize the safety and well-being of the players or their families", Hewitt said, quoted by the official website of the tournament.
Also, the head of the AELTC noted that the exclusion of Russian athletes before Wimbledon is not discrimination. «We believe that we have made the most responsible decision that is possible in the circumstances. Within the framework of the government's position, there is also no real alternative to it,» he said.