Wimbledon ban on Russian players slammed as ‘complete discrimination’ by Andrey Rublev

Russian tennis Andrey Rublev has slammed the Lawn Tennis Association’s decision to ban Russian and Belarussian players from competing at Wimbledon this year, calling the ruling ‘complete discrimination.’

The LTA announced on Wednesday that it would be following the precedent set by other organisation including FIFA, UEFA, and Eurovision by banning Russians from competing in high profile international events, in order to render the Russian state a sporting and cultural outcast following president Vladimir Putin’s devastating invasion of Ukraine.

The United Nations estimates that almost five million people have fled Ukraine since the assault began across land, air, and sea in late February, while cities including Mariupol, Kharkiv and Kyiv have been decimated by shelling. Belarussian players have also been banned due to their nation’s practical support for the invasion.

A statement from the All England Club on Wednesday read: ‘Given the profile of The Championships in the United Kingdom and around the world, it is our responsibility to play our part in the widespread efforts of Government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible.

‘In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefits from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players with The Championships.

‘It is therefore our intention, with deep regret, to decline entries from Russian and Belarusian players to The Championships 2022.’

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