KEMEROVO, Sep 29, Sergey Smyshlyaev. Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said, that for international sports, the removal of Russia from competitions is comparable to suicide. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the end of February recommended that sports federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in competitions due to the situation in Ukraine. Most of the federations have followed this recommendation.» I am sure that the world sports community is aware of the harm they have done to themselves by removing Russian athletes and depriving Russia of international tournaments. Such reliable partners as Russia can be counted on the fingers of one hand. We have held a huge number of competitions at the highest level. You can compare the removal (of Russia from the competition) with suicide. I hope that reason will prevail. We will definitely win,» Matytsin said at the international forum «Russia is a sports power.»
