The legendary Olympic champion said what he would do if Putin called him

The President of the International Federation of Athletics (World Athletics) Sebastian Coe is ready to consider the return of Russian athletes if a peace agreement is signed on the war in Ukraine. The two-time Olympic champion in the 1500 meters also noted that he is ready to talk to dictator Vladimir Putin.

Coe said this in an interview with journalist Piers Morgan's YouTube channel, Inside The Games reports. According to the official, whose federation consistently adheres to sanctions against Russians, the suspension of representatives of the aggressor country should be lifted later.

"If we come to a point where an agreement that suits both sides is reached, then of course we want to see Russian athletes in our sport. It's better than outside of it. Would I pick up the phone if Putin called me? Of course I would. Everyone would. You have to talk to everyone. Those who say that sport should be outside politics are naive, because politics is the essence of life and sport is the essence of life," Coe said.

It should be noted that Coe is one of the candidates for the post of president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), whose election will take place on March 20.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Russian athlete Sergey Shubenkov spoke insultingly about the IOC presidential candidates, calling the election of a new head of the committee "an election between a meaningless enema and a shit sandwich."

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