Russians' Asian route to Games not yet final-IOC's Lalovic

A proposed Paris 2024 Olympics qualification route for Russian and Belarusian athletes through Asian events has not been finalised or agreed, the United World Wrestling President Nenad Lalovic said on Friday.

Lalovic, also a member of the powerful International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board, said all options were being considered to see if and how those athletes could take part in the Paris Games despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine has threatened to boycott the Olympics should athletes from Russia and Belarus be allowed to compete. Latvia has hinted it could also boycott.

The IOC announced last week that athletes from the two countries, unable to compete in European qualifiers due to the war, might be allowed to earn slots for the Paris Games through Asian qualifying.

Should they qualify, they would compete in Paris as neutral athletes, with no flags or anthems, part of IOC sanctions against them.

"From a position as international federation president I can say all IFs agreed to follow the recommendations of the IOC and that the IOC should be the leader going towards the Games," Lalovic told Reuters in an interview, referring to international sports federations.

"At this moment we are exploring all the options ... We should think about the human rights of those who are not involved in the war especially the athletes."

Several nations apart from Ukraine have openly opposed the IOC's plans to bring these athletes to the Games.

Poland said on Thursday it believed it would be possible to build a coalition of some 40 countries, including the United States, Britain and Canada, by Feb. 10 supporting the call to block Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Games.

'DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES'

Lalovic said the IOC's