IOC’s ban: Decision contradicts the Olympic Charter – Russia
Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor, Abuja
The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) has faulted the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) directing all sports federations to ban Russian and Belarusian Athletes from competing in sports events over the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
ROC reacting to the order by the IOC said that the decision contradicts the IOC’s regulatory documents and the Olympic Charter.
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They stressed that the IOC could have sent requests to the respective international sports federations, who have the authority to admit athletes into international competition, to decide the fate of Russian athletes to participate in different sports in the international scene.
ROC statement according to Reuter reads: “As a first step, we consider it necessary to send requests to international federations for an official response on the status of Russian athletes and their rights to participate in international competitions since it is the federations that have the authority to admit athletes to international competitions in the respective sport.
“For its part, the Russian Olympic Committee intends to consistently uphold the rights and interests of Russian athletes and provide all necessary assistance to our national federations to challenge discriminatory decisions of the relevant international federations,” ROC said.
The International Olympic Committee earlier in an executive board meeting, proposed that the various international sports federations ban Russia and Belarus from participating in any sports event which according to them is to ‘protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants’.
Following the move by the IOC, the world football governing body (FIFA) and European football governing body (UEFA) have also banned Russian teams and clubs from participating in any world or European football events till further notice.
