MOSCOW, August 1, Alexander Govorov. Four-time Olympic biathlon champion Alexander Tikhonov said that the honored coach of Russia Eteri Tutberidze should not have talked about «freezing» the rating of skaters in the absence of Russian athletes. Previously, Tutberidze called it absurd to hold international competitions, update world rankings and distribute titles in the absence of Russian skaters. «If we could rule the ball, then had the right to say something. Did Tutberidze think before she spoke like that? No, she didn’t think. Today we are nobody in world sports. There are good examples in biathlon, in athletics. We were expelled everywhere, we are irritants, we make statements, to which we have no right. Empty talk. We will scrape together even more problems for ourselves. When the whole of Europe cries by winter, then we will talk to them. They will come to us themselves, but now there is no need, «said Tikhonov Hall. The Council of the International Skating Union (ISU) on March 1, against the backdrop of events in Ukraine, suspended Russian and Belarusian figure skaters, speed skaters and short track skaters from participating in international tournaments. In June, the ISU Congress approved this decision, it will remain in effect until further notice.
