The sports ministers of the United Kingdom and France have insisted that Russian and Belarusian athletes should never compete as neutrals, as recommended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), because they can still be funded by their governments.
The IOC imposed sanctions on Russia and Belarus after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022 with the support of Minsk, but last month advised their athletes to return to international competition as neutrals.
Several Olympic sports federations have taken steps to allow Russians and Belarusians back as neutrals, but Ukraine is threatening to boycott the 2024 Paris Games unless Moscow withdraws its soldiers.
UK Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lucy Frazer told a Council of Europe parliamentary hearing on Tuesday that the lack of references to government funding in the IOC recommendations is worrying.
“Secondly, the provisions on the ties between military and national security services are currently minimal… We know that the ties between state, military and sport in Russia and Belarus are root and branch,” she added at the Strasbourg meeting.
“Many Russian athletes have been active in their support of Putin’s invasion.”
According to the IOC recommendations, Russians or Belarusians contracted to their army cannot compete.
France’s sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said the IOC must solve “very tangible and fundamental problems” before the Olympics start next July and that public funding would be a breach of neutrality.
“What is the position the IOC wants to take when it comes to athletes funded and funded by the Russian or Belarusian state?” asked Oudea-Castera.
“Or those who are sponsored or receive financial support from entities associated with Russia or Belarus?”
She added: “None of us should accept the idea of a Ukrainian athlete being forced to share a field, field, field or starting line with state-sponsored athletes from Russia and Belarus.”
The IOC will decide on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at a later date.
Former Armenian wrestler Arsen Julfalakyan, chairman of United World Wrestling’s athlete committee, represented the Olympic organization at Tuesday’s meeting and said he opposed a ban.
Julfalakyan said he had never advocated banning Azerbaijani athletes despite the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between the two countries that has killed thousands.
“I realized what war means and what it looks like. I lost friends, relatives and people I knew well… I have never called for a total ban on Azerbaijani athletes and I will not do so here,” said the Olympic medalist.
“Sport should never be politicised. It is not acceptable to use sport as a tool of punishment. It is not for governments to decide – that will end international sport.”
Ukraine not only threatened a boycott, but also banned its national teams from participating in events with Russian and Belarusian participants.
“The government will not financially support the participation of Ukrainian teams in such competitions,” Deputy Sports Minister Andriy Chesnokov said at the meeting.
Russia has condemned the West for what it says is an unwarranted attempt to politicize sport for geopolitical gain.
Wimbledon donates aid to Ukraine
Meanwhile, Wimbledon organizers said on Tuesday they will provide additional financial support to Ukrainian players and goals after overturning a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes at this year’s event.
The All England Club, which runs Wimbledon, announced last month that the suspension imposed last year would not go ahead after they were stripped of ranking points and hit with hefty fines by the WTA and ATP.
Competitors from the two countries can compete in the Grand Slam, which begins on July 3, as “neutral” athletes, provided they meet certain conditions, including a ban on expressing support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At a press conference to announce plans for the 2023 tournament, organizers revealed that a pound from every ticket sold – expected to exceed £500,000 ($625,000) in total – will be donated to Ukrainian aid.
Money is made available for a day at the tournament for 1,000 Ukrainian refugees.
Two hotel rooms per Ukrainian player are also offered free of charge, as well as training facilities for the duration of the grass season.
Russian and Belarusian players have been able to compete as neutrals on the men’s and women’s tours, including at the other Grand Slams.
Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are both in the top six in the men’s game, while Belarusian women’s world number two Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open earlier this year.