"Until they leave Ukraine": Russia's return to world biathlon is over

The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is not going to change its tough stance on the admission of Russian athletes to its competitions. The organisation is ready to consider the return of representatives of the aggressor country only after the Russian army leaves Ukraine.

This was stated by IBU Vice President Jiri Hamza in a commentary to the Czech portal Idnes.cz. He criticised the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its President Thomas Bach, who recommended that federations allow Russians to compete under neutral status.

"We do not need to make any decisions and change our position. We also disagree with the IOC's recommendation to return the Russians to compete under a neutral flag. They should remain suspended until they leave Ukraine," Hamza said.

Czech biathlete Michal Krchmar fully supported the position of his compatriot. "The situation hasn't changed, it remains the same, the war is still going on, people are dying. I don't know why we should suddenly change our minds because some time has passed," the athlete said.

Recall that the IOC recommended that international federations suspend athletes from the Russian Federation who are related to the Russian army and security forces, as well as team sports. Representatives of the aggressor country should also not support the war in Ukraine.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, two-time world champion in luge Semen Pavlichenko called Ukrainians sick and said that "there have been wars in the world all the time". And the winner of the Olympics, Yelena Välbae, complained about the difficulties with the capture of Ukraine and dreamed that the world would apologise to Russia.

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