MOSCOW, Sep 16 Statement by U.S. Olympic Committee Chair Suzanne Lyons about the possibility of a return to international competitions of individual athletes from Russia is blackmail, since we are talking about the return of athletes in a neutral status and after their public condemnation of the special operation, said Senator, former world champion in powerlifting Eduard Isakov. Lyons previously said that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) thinks about the return of Russian athletes to international competitions, and noted that this will inevitably happen. The IOC at the end of February recommended that international sports federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in competitions due to the situation in Ukraine. A number of international federations followed this recommendation. «The head of the US Olympic Committee, Suzanne Lyons, discussing with Reuters the fate of Russian athletes suspended from international competitions, said that individual athletes should not become victims of state policy, the IOC is thinking about whether it is possible to return Russian athletes» , — the senator wrote in his Telegram channel.
