MOSCOW, 30 Sep. The President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), Stanislav Pozdnyakov, said that it is inadmissible to use athletes to satisfy the requests of certain geopolitical forces. Earlier, the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, in an interview with the Italian edition of Corriere della Sera, said that Russian athletes, who do not support the special operation in Ukraine should be allowed to participate in international competitions in a neutral status.
"From today's statement by IOC President Thomas Bach, we can conclude that Russian athletes are invited to exchange their nationality and civic position for a humiliating neutral status performances in the international arena. Sanctions against Russian sports are still in effect. In this situation, artificially created by the recommendations of the IOC Executive Committee, our athletes are, in fact, forced to violate the laws of their country and the Olympic Charter", Pozdnyakov wrote in his telegram channel.
«The Russian Olympic Committee, as before, insists on that sport should, regardless of the circumstances, remain outside of politics, and athletes should not be used as hostages in the interests of satisfying the requests of certain geopolitical forces. We will continue to work on this issue, firmly adhering to our position, acting in the interests of Russian sports and our athletes» — added the head of the Russian Olympic Committee.