Russian Olympic Committee president, who was critical of neutral athlete rules, to step down

The president of the suspended Russian Olympic Committee said Tuesday he plans to step down after six years in charge.

Stanislav Pozdnyakov's statement comes just over two months after a delegation of 15 Russians competed at the Paris Olympics as "Individual Neutral Athletes" without the national flag or anthem as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The athletes did not represent the ROC, whose International Olympic Committee recognition was suspended last year, and Pozdnyakov had been sharply critical of the neutral rules.

Pozdnyakov said in a statement on the ROC website a board meeting next month was expected to set a date to elect his replacement, who would likely take office shortly before the IOC too elects a new leader.

"The geopolitical challenges that our country faces dictate the need for optimization and centralization of the management of key areas of activity, including elite-level sports," Pozdnyakov said. He added "the role of the state nowadays is important as never before" in supporting athletes and sports events.

Pozdnyakov is a former Olympic fencing gold medallist who holds the rank of colonel in the Russian military.

Russian athletes have not competed under the country's national flag at any of the three Olympic Games during Pozdnyakov's six-year tenure as president of the ROC.

For the pandemic-delayed Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 and the Winter Olympics in Beijing the following year, Russians competed under the ROC name and flag as part of the fallout from long-running disputes over doping cases.