Kremlin says reported banning of Russian players from Wimbledon is 'unacceptable'

By Aleks Klosok and Anna Chernova, CNN

Updated 1224 GMT (2024 HKT) April 20, 2022

Wimbledon, the third grand slam of the year, is set to begin on June 27.

(CNN)The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a reported ban on Russian players taking part in this year's Wimbledon tennis tournament as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine is «unacceptable.»

Government spokesman Dmitry Peskov was responding to a question concerning the barring of Russian and Belarusian players from the tournament which was reported by The New York Times on Wednesday.«Making athletes victims of some kind of political prejudices, intrigues, hostile actions towards our country, is unacceptable. One can only express regret here,» Peskov told a conference call with reporters.The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which organizes and hosts the celebrated grand slam event, told CNN: «We are not able to confirm or deny at present, but plan to make an announcement this afternoon.»The information was confirmed to the newspaper by «a highly placed international tennis official» who was speaking anonymously.Read MoreThe official was not authorized to speak on behalf of the AELTC, according to the NYT.«Considering that Russia is after all a very strong tennis country, our tennis players are in the top lines of the world ranking, the competition itself will suffer from their removal,» added Peskov.«I would like to wish the guys to do everything in order not to lose shape and not lose their world tennis class.»The AELTC told CNN earlier this month that it was «continuing to engage in discussion with the UK Government, the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), and the international governing bodies of tennis» in relation to the participation of Russian and Belarusian