Russia's sports elite is excluded from international competitions. The IOC recently opened the door. But three fencers have to watch.
Moscow - Should Russia's athletes be allowed to participate in international competitions again? What about arguably the biggest of all competitions - the Olympics? The IOC had recently spoken out in favor of a return - but for Russia's star fencers Sofia Velikaja, Jana Yegoryan and Sofia Posdnyakova, the dream of the Olympics has probably burst.
| International Olympic Committee | |
| Founded | 23 June 1894 |
| Seat | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| President | Thomas Bach |
Russia's Olympic chief criticises Fie's decision as a "farce"
They are not allowed to participate in the Olympic qualification. In addition to the sabre trio, which has already been decorated with Olympic gold, other fencers from Russia were not admitted to international competitions by the FIE World Federation. The head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, then declared that the return conditions for Russian athletes were a "farce". (Kati Witt recently spoke out in favor of admitting Russians to the Olympics.)
Actually, the fencing federation had previously taken a step towards Russia: Even before the IOC's pro-Russia recommendation, the World Fencing Federation had made it possible for Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in individual competitions "in compliance with the conditions of neutrality and individual admission". A few weeks ago, the IOC recommended that the world federations allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete again as neutral athletes - provided they meet certain conditions.
IOC recommends admitting Russia's athletes - under strict conditions
The world federations are not taking the decision lightly in view of Russia's ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine. They have to decide and assess whether the IOC criteria are met in the athlete test. The IOC's conditions include strict neutrality, compliance with the anti-doping code and proof of not actively supporting the war. Those who belong to the military are excluded, as are enlisted men.
Unacceptable for Pozdnykov. The requirements of the IOC are formulated in such a way that "participation in practice is impossible for the majority of our athletes and practically all leaders of our national team in the qualifications for the Olympics and other competitions," Pozdnyakov wrote on his Telegram channel.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and fencer Sofia Velikaya in 2016. © Yuri Kochetkov/dpa
Russia's Olympic chief criticises "Invented or illegal parameters and other artificial clues"
Under these conditions, he probably does not want his athletes to participate. Russia will thus be faced with a difficult choice, he explained: "Our fencers will only participate if there are equal conditions with the athletes of other countries, without invented or illegal parameters and other artificial obstacles," said Russia's Olympic boss - in the position they were agreed.
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Pozdnayakov knows what it's like to compete with the world's elite at the highest level. He is a four-time Olympic fencing champion and father of Sofia Posdnyakova. His 25-year-old daughter won sabre gold in the individual and team events at the Tokyo Olympics. The 37-year-old Sofia Velikaya is a five-time world champion, fights for CSKA Moscow and was flag bearer in Tokyo. Jana Yegoryan (29) came up trumps in Rio 2016 and was named Sportswoman of the Year in Russia. (CGSC with dpa)
The Russia question also divides opinions in Germany: The head of the German association opposes Nancy Faeser. The politician wants to ban Russian athletes from entering the country.
