The athletics boss believes that Russian athletes will not be able to compete in international competitions for many more years.
The Russians participated in the Olympics under a neutral flag because of the doping scandal. Now there is no question about international competitions at all. EPA/AOP
– I believe that the whole decade will be difficult for Russian athletes.
President of the Israel Athletics Federation Ami Barani the message to Russian and Belarusian athletes excluded from international competitions is blunt. He believes that panna will continue for a long time.
– I don’t think it’s about one or two years. Even if the war ends, doping is still a problem in Russia. Russia must act fairly and be transparent, said Bara, who visited Espoo on Thursday.
In addition to his athletics responsibility, Baran is also the general secretary of the European Baseball and Softball Association. He met the president of the International Olympic Committee, or IOC by Thomas Bach newly.
Under Bach’s leadership, the IOC has opened a discussion on accepting Russians and Belarusians back to international games.
– Bach said that if the international unions do not make a decision, the governments will. So governments would interfere in sports. That’s not what the IOC wants, Baran opens the game that happens behind the scenes.
Some countries have already closed their borders to Russians or stopped issuing visas. This will also affect sports events if the Russians are allowed back.
No can do
On Thursday, Ami Baran (left) participated in Espoo’s baseball promise Konsta Kurika’s press conference. Anni Saarela
Baran does not support the acceptance of Russians and Belarusians back to international fields. In his opinion, the sports community should continue to support Ukraine.
– We must continue as one front. The ban must continue until Russia’s aggression in Ukraine ends.
However, the sports boss understands that the athletes are in a difficult place. The career of many superstars can end like a wall.
– Athletes are not allowed to participate because of the government’s actions. If the athletes say something, there will be consequences for them. They can even go to jail. This is a big problem.
Many parties have expressed that athletes from Russia and Belarus should not be allowed back yet. The Nordic Olympic Committees and, among others, the Finnish Skiing Federation are very strongly against the idea.
Thomas Bach (center) finds out what the Olympic committees of different countries think about the position of Russians and Belarusians. PDO