Ukraine sends letter to IOC with evidence of support for war by Russian athletes who qualified for Olympic Games

The President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, Vadym Gutzeit, and the Acting Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Matvey Bednyi, have signed a letter to the International Olympic Committee providing evidence of support for the war by Russian athletes who have qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, according to the NOC press service.

"The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, with great respect and high regard for the cooperation between our organizations, send this letter to express our firm position and confirm the unwavering principles upheld by Ukraine. Amidst the unprecedented and brutal military aggression conducted by the Russian Federation and supported by the Republic of Belarus against our country, we believe that representatives of the aggressor countries should not be allowed to participate in any international events and competitions in any status, including the status of an Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN)," the NOC said in the letter.

Among the athletes who received permission from the IOC to participate in the Olympic Games are representatives of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. The NOC pointed out that these athletes support the war in Ukraine and the policies of the Russian dictator and do not meet the sufficient criteria to obtain the AIN status.

"In particular, we are referring to the following athletes: Alan Ostaev (wrestling), Magomed Murtazaliev (wrestling), Arslan Bagaev (wrestling), Alina Kasabieva (wrestling), Natalia Malysheva (wrestling), Abdula Kurbanov (wrestling), Nachin Mongush (wrestling), Ivan Litvinovich (trampoline), Angela Bladzeva (trampoline), Darya Chupris (shooting), Anna Tserakh (cycling),