Two-time curling champion Anastasia Bryzgalova has called the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) requirements for admission to competitions a mockery of Russians. The athlete, whose partner Alexander Krushelnitsky was caught doping at the 2018 Olympics, called the condemnation of the war in Ukraine a betrayal of Russia.

Bryzgalova said this in an interview with the propaganda TV channel Match TV. According to her, "no Russian athlete who loves his country will do this". At the same time, she is waiting for admission to international tournaments from the federation in her sport.

"They probably want to wait until the moment when there is no chance of making it to the Olympic Games. And then they will say to our players: 'Well, okay, you're allowed, you can go to some tournament'. Now everything is possible. The IOC's eligibility conditions? That's complete nonsense. I don't think any Russian athlete who loves his country will go for it. This is some kind of mockery. In general, our federation has good relations with the World Curling Federation (WCF). If there are any relaxations on the part of the IOC, that everything is not so strict, the WCF will not be the one to obstruct us and keep us out," Bryzgalova said.

As a reminder, the IOC recommended that international federations suspend Russian athletes involved in the Russian army and law enforcement agencies, as well as team sports. Representatives of the aggressor country should also not support the war in Ukraine.

In response, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) did not nominate Russia for the 2024 Olympics and also suspended the Russian national team from the 2025 European Championships.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the IOC has issued a new statement on Ukraine's boycott of competitions to which athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed

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