EU Policy. Court quashes sanctions on F1 driver Nikita Mazepin
EU sanctions imposed on Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin have been quashed by the EU courts in a judgment released today (20 March).
Vladimir Putin Sport News
IOC implores athletes not to participate in Russia-backed Friendship Games later this year
Facing a Russia-organized potential rival to the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee urged sports and political leaders on Tuesday not to take part in the Friendship Games due to launch weeks after the Summer Games in Paris.
IOC urges sports, countries to avoid Russia's Friendship Games - ESPN
GENEVA — Facing a Russia-organized potential rival to the Olympics, the IOC urged sports and political leaders Tuesday not to take part in the Friendship Games due to launch weeks after the Summer Games in Paris.
IOC president Thomas Bach warns of 'very aggressive comments' from Moscow
Russia's government is becoming increasingly aggressive towards the International Olympic Committee as the Paris Games draw near, according to IOC president Thomas Bach. Russia sports minister Oleg Matytsin said last week Russia should not boycott the Games, which run from 26 July to 11 August, despite restrictions on its athletes imposed by the IOC over the invasion of Ukraine. The IOC will allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who qualify to take part as neutrals without their countries' flags, emblems or national anthems. "As far as their participation is concerned, we have heard the rather polite signal [from the Russian sports minister]... but on the other hand, we've also seen the government's very aggressive comments," Bach told French daily Le Monde. He added that their participation in the opening and closing ceremonies would be discussed on Tuesday and Wednesday by the IOC's executive board. "The IOC doesn't comment, but we can see that the government's aggressiveness is growing by the day, against the IOC, against the Games, against me," he said. "They range from 'fascist' to 'destroyer of the Games and the Olympic movement'.
'Pseudo-election': European leaders condemn Putin's victory
EU and several European leaders have blasted Putin's election victory in Russia.
Russian presidential election: The dashed hopes of Russian exiles in France
Report translated by Gulliver Cragg.
Valieva doping case has WADA targeting new rules before 2026 Olympic figure skating event
The doping case of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva left a "very unpleasant" taste with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which is unhappy that the teenager was the only one punished with a ban while her coaches and entourage have not been sanctioned.
Euroviews. Two years on, can we truly afford to forget Ukraine?
Two years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. It anticipated rapidly overthrowing the Ukrainian government, but the brave Ukrainians had other ideas.