American hockey player Barber: If Russia does not go to games, it will be dishonest
The American striker of the Nizhnekamsk “Neftekhimik” Riley Barber appreciated the possible absence of the Russian national team at the Olympic Games-2026. His words are given by RB Sport.
According to the athlete, if Russia does not go to the games, it will be dishonest. “The medal cannot be called really gold if one of the best teams did not play in the tournament. There are too many good players in Russia to unhook it. If these guys cannot go to the Olympics, it will be very sad. They worked so much to get there, ”he said, expressing hope for a positive resolution of the issue and tolerance of the team.
On February 4, the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) extended sanctions against the Russian national team and did not allow the team to be the 2026 World Cup. At the same time, the decision to speak Russians at the Olympics in Italy will be made after the presidential election of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in March 2025. In the case of a positive verdict, the Russian team will play on an OI with the United States, Slovakia and Latvia in the group S.
The Russian team has been suspended from international tournaments since the end of February 2022. The last major competition for domestic hockey players was the Olympic Games-2022, where the team won silver medals.
Source: Lenta
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