The Russians want their athletes back in international competitions. The International Biathlon Union is not flexible.
On Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee IOC published a recommendation according to which individual Russian and Belarusian athletes can be accepted back to international games with a neutral status.
Several boundary conditions had been defined for the athletes, one of which in particular is causing a headache in Russia.
Individual athletes may not be in the service of their country’s army or security service. Several athletes have received a higher military rank in the National Guard after sporting success.
Others, on the other hand, represent clubs whose past is connected to the army and the intelligence service. CSKA used to be a team of the Soviet army, Moscow Dynamo KGB.
Due to the situation in Russia, we are ready for tough solutions. Chairman of the Russian Biathlon Union Viktor Maigurov athletes may be kicked out of their clubs or jobs.
– If it (the club) is the only obstacle, then yes. The criterion is not the only one the IOC talks about. We will find common ground with the Russian Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports one way or another, Maigurov commented on Match tv.
– I hope that things will continue to progress.
The Russians participated in the Beijing Olympics without national symbols. EPA/AOP
According to Maigurov, athletes can also resign if the race dream requires it. The Russian boss has discussed the issue with the International Biathlon Union IBU.
– We talked on the phone before the World Cup. It’s been almost two months now. The head of the Biathlon Federation of Belarus and I invited them to our games.
– They thanked for the invitation, but said the calendar was full.
Door shut
Viktor Maigurov believes that there is a way to get to the Games. EPA/AOP
The IBU said Match for tv to consider the recent recommendation of the IOC.
At the moment, the door is not open for Russians and Belarusians. The Congress of the International Federation decided on the matter last September.
– The Congress made a clear decision that Russians and Belarusians will not be allowed to participate in the Games or other events organized by the IBU. In the long term, the IBU is ready to discuss how Russians and Belarusians will be readmitted. Now is not the right time to reconsider the decision, the IBU replied to the Russian website.
In February 2022, the IBU allowed Russians and Belarusians to participate in the World Cup with a neutral status. Russian athletes did not participate in the Games.
Later, the sports association introduced a full ban.
Russians can only enter the Games as individual athletes. Pictured is Aleksandr Loginov. EPA/AOP