In the months leading up to the Paris Olympics, Russian athletes have qualified in some events but are absent from others.

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With only six months left until the Paris Olympics, it is not yet clear whether Russian athletes will participate, and if so, how many.

Russians have qualified for the Olympics as “neutral athletes” in martial arts such as judo and wrestling, but not in some of the Games’ most high-profile events such as track and field, swimming and gymnastics.

Russia is unhappy that competitors compete without the national flag or anthem, with President Vladimir Putin saying last month: Russia has not yet decided Whether or not to send athletes to the Paris Games, which begin on July 26th.

Ukrainian athletes are furious that some sports organizations are bending the rules to allow Russians who support the war or have ties to the military to compete as “neutral nations.”

If the Russians compete in Paris, it will likely be as tense as when Ukrainian fencer Olga Harlan competed at the World Fencing Championships, an Olympic qualifier. refused to shake hands After defeating the Russian “neutral” Anna Smirnova.

Smirnova staged a sit-in protest until the Ukrainian athlete was disqualified, but the International Olympic Committee intervened He granted Kahlan a “unique exception” to qualify for the Olympics.

How Russians qualify

Last year, the IOC established an “individual neutral athlete” program for athletes from Russia and its military ally Belarus. Both athletes were suspended from most Olympic sports a year ago over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The process is run by sports federations that organize their own qualifying competitions. The IOC is calling for the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes who are employed by the military or security services, or who have posted on social media supporting the war. Due to the large number of different rules for the tournament’s 32 sports, it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of competitors with “neutral” status.

The IOC announced that six Russians and five Belarusians have already qualified for Paris. Many qualifying events are planned for the future.

The IOC will appoint an “independent analyst” to carry out its own review, spokesman Mark Adams said last week.

“We can have some confidence that those who qualify have already gone through one process and will then go through a second process using an independent organization run by the IOC,” Adams said. .

Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov told state news agency RIA Novosti on Wednesday that “more stringent” conditions were expected, adding that the additional review meant the IOC “does not have complete confidence in international sports federations.” ” he suggested.

What sports do Russians compete in?

The martial arts world was particularly enthusiastic about the return of Russian athletes. Judo, fencing, wrestling and taekwondo are leading the way in accepting “neutral athletes” in 2023, with Russians regularly competing in Olympic qualifiers.

Various sports organizations in Russia have taken different approaches to the “neutral athlete” system, and a final decision from the government is yet to come. In December, President Vladimir Putin expressed concern that the rules could result in many of Russia’s top athletes being “excluded” from the Olympics.

Leading gymnastics coach Valentina Rodionenko told Russian media that Russia should not participate in the World Cup unless standards are relaxed. According to International Gymnastics Federation records, 30 athletes, coaches and officials from Belarus have been granted “neutral” status, but no Russians are included.

Belarus is also planning to send five swimmers, but no Russians are expected to compete at the World Aquatics Championships, a key Olympic qualifier, to be held in Qatar next month.

Russia’s governing body for gymnastics and swimming did not respond to requests for comment on whether any applications had been submitted on behalf of the athletes.

Russia withdrew from the Olympic weightlifting qualifiers in protest at a request to sign a declaration that included a pledge not to express any support for the war. Belarus participated in these events.

Track and field never lifted the ban on Russian athletes. The IOC prevents Russia and Belarus from participating in team sports such as soccer, basketball, and volleyball because Russia and Belarus do not participate as members of national teams, but as “individuals.” This is because they insist that they should only be involved in competitions. However, tennis doubles and his two-person boat crew may be approved.

Ukraine concerns

Are sports federations following the rules? Ukraine says no.

More than 200 Ukrainian athletes, including top soccer player Mykhailo Mudryk and world high jump champion Yaroslava Makhuchik, signed an open letter this month to French President Emmanuel Macron, urging him to participate in the Olympics as a “neutral country.” He claimed that the three Russians who had obtained the rights had expressed support for the war.

“Allowing the participation of athletes from an aggressor country that openly supports Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine violates the fundamental ethical principles proclaimed by the Olympic Charter,” the letter said.

Ukraine remains opposed to the IOC’s request to allow Russians to compete as neutrals, but in July it reversed a policy that would have forced Ukrainian athletes to boycott the event rather than compete.

Two Olympic taekwondo gold medalists accused of posting pro-war posts on social media have been sentenced to three months of “suspension” by the World Taekwondo Association, but will not be allowed to continue competing. Ta. United World Wrestling has brought three Russian Olympic champions to the World Championship. they were under pressure Attended an anti-war rally in Moscow attended by President Putin.

Switch nationality

It is possible that at least some Russian players, as well as those who represented Russia before the war, will be in Paris as part of the host France team.

They include European swimming champion Anastasia Kirpichnikova, who switched allegiance from Russia to France in April, and Moscow-born Varvara Gracheva, who has been representing France since June and is France’s second-ranked tennis player.