“We keep a close eye on who supports the war with statements or actions and draw the necessary conclusions from that.”, said IOC President Thomas Bach at the 139th session of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne. He referred to penalties against the Russian swimmer Yevgeny Rylow and the gymnast Ivan Kuljak, who had been banned by the world associations for a long time because of pro-war actions.
Bach emphasized that the IOC is aware of the possible prison sentences that threaten those who publicly speak out against the war in Russia. “We understand that under these circumstances, silence can also be a message”said the IOC chief.