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Rabat – 10 Russian wrestlers have chosen to boycott the 2024 Olympic Games despite being cleared to participate under stringent conditions set by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Individual Neutral Athlete program.
Initially barred due to Russia’s war on Ukraine, these athletes were allowed to compete under a neutral flag provided they demonstrated no affiliation with Russia’s armed forces.
The Russian Wrestling Federation issued a statement on Saturday expressing strong opposition to what it termed as the IOC’s “unsportsmanlike selection principle.”
While the IOC had listed nine of the 10 invited wrestlers as having agreed to compete, the federation’s announcement clarified that none will take part in the Olympics, AP reported.
The federation accused the IOC of undermining team unity by its criteria for eligibility, leading to the unanimous decision among executive committee members, coaches, and wrestlers to refuse participation in the Olympic Games.
“The decision was unanimous — to refuse to participate in the Olympic Games,” added the statement.
Under the IOC’s guidelines, approved Russian athletes would compete solely under a neutral banner and be excluded from both team events and the opening ceremony. Russian officials have consistently criticized these conditions, decrying what they described as unfair treatment by the IOC.
The incident has raised questions about the IOC’s approach to accommodating athletes from countries embroiled in international disputes.
The IOC has also come under scrutiny for what critics perceive as double standards in its approach to Russia and Israel in international sports.
Many highlighted how quickly the IOC sanctioned Russian athletes following the war in Ukraine but has not taken similar actions against Israel amid its war on Gaza, which has claimed the lives of at least 38,000 Palestinians.
Critics have argued that this disparity shows selective morality and raises questions about the IOC’s commitment to fair and consistent application of its principles.
