Therese Johaug’s position is clear.
Therese Johaug does not want to see Russian athletes on the track. PDO
Cross-country skiing legend Therese Johaug has taken a stand on the possible return of Russian athletes to international competitions.
The International Olympic Committee recommended at the beginning of the week that sports federations can admit individual Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Games with neutral symbols.
Johaug has nothing against individual Russian skiers and feels sorry for them, but does not want to see them on the race tracks until the war is over.
– As long as they are at war with Ukraine, I think it is completely wrong, Johaug said Expressen’s by.
Russian skiers have been suspended since Russia expanded its war of aggression in Ukraine a year ago in February.
The boss of the International Ski Federation Johan Eliasch has said he wants to see them at the starting line again.
– You see what happens in certain sports, where Russia has very talented athletes. We will listen and see what the IOC does and then decide our position on this, he said.
Director of the International Association of Athletics Federations Sebastian Coe said recently this week that Russian athletes will not compete in international athletics competitions next summer.