The US State Department said it was concerned about the alleged connections of athletes from the Russian Federation with the military
The US State Department said it was concerned about alleged ties between Russian athletes and the military. Thus, the deputy head of the press service of the department, Vendant Patel, commented on the possibility of admitting Russians to the Olympics, TASS reports.
The official noted that Washington is consulting with other countries regarding the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the admission of athletes from Russia and Belarus in a neutral status.
“There are still serious concerns about direct links between Olympic and Paralympic athletes and the armed forces of Russia and Belarus, as well as agencies working in the field of national security,” Patel said.
He added that the US is also expressing concerns about “the IOC’s enforcement mechanisms” because, according to him, they have not yet been given sufficient attention.
On March 28, the IOC recommended that Russians who did not support the special operation in Ukraine be admitted to the competition in a neutral status. At the same time, athletes from Russia and Belarus associated with the armed forces or security agencies of their countries are recommended to be suspended from participating in tournaments.
At the end of February 2022, most sports organizations suspended the national teams of Russia and Belarus on the recommendation of the IOC. The decision on the participation of representatives of these countries in the 2024 Olympics has not yet been made.
Source: Lenta
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