No need to speak out against the war: new conditions for Russia's return to world sport announced

Russian and Belarusian athletes will not have to condemn the war in Ukraine to participate in international competitions. However, representatives of the aggressor countries will have to sign a declaration, the text of which is currently being discussed and developed.

This was stated by Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of the Association of International Summer Olympic Federations (ASOIF), in an interview with the French publication L'Equipe. According to him, the requirement for athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus to oppose the war in Ukraine allegedly threatens their safety.

"The athletes will have to sign a declaration, but no one will ask them to say that they are against the war, because in Russia this becomes a criminal offence. We are in the process of developing this with the support of lawyers. Formula One drivers are already doing this. Federations such as swimming are already taking some steps, and we will try to coordinate all this, but it is not easy. Another delicate issue is control over compliance with the criteria. We are considering the option of entrusting this task to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). But there is no official decision yet," the official said.

Earlier, two-time world curling champion Anastasia Bryzgalova called the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) demand that Russian athletes condemn the war in Ukraine nonsense. The IOC has recommended that international federations suspend Russian athletes who are affiliated with the Russian army and law enforcement agencies, as well as team sports.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the IOC has issued a new statement on Ukraine's boycott of competitions that will allow athletes from Russia and Belarus.

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