Olympics: Ukraine accuses IOC of ‘double standards’ over Russia

The International Olympic Committee has been accused of “double standards” by Ukraine’s sports minister for proposing that Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete in Paris 2024.

Ukraine remains firmly opposed to the IOC “exploring a way” to allow athletes from the banned nations to participate.

“What has changed? Nothing has changed. First the IOC banned them, and now they are trying to allow them to compete,” said Vadym Guttsait.

“There are certain double standards.”

The issue of sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes will be high on the agenda when the IOC Executive Board meets in Switzerland on Tuesday.

Shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the IOC urged sports federations to ban athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus.

However, last month the IOC opened up the possibility for athletes from the neutral flag nations to compete in Paris.

Guttsait said for this to happen, “serious criteria” would need to be attached to confirm the neutrality of all athletes allowed to compete.

“You can’t just say, ‘We are for peace’ and that’s it,” said Guttsait, who is also chairman of Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee.

“If the criteria are very weak, why was Russia suspended last year?

“The situation has only gotten worse. More Ukrainians are being killed and more Ukrainian territory is being occupied. There are air raids every day, our cities are being bombed and our people are being killed.

“We don’t understand at all what was the reason for the IOC to start a discussion about lifting the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes.”

Justifying its decision, the IOC said the Olympics “cannot prevent wars and conflicts” but the Games “could inspire us to solve problems by building bridges”.

But Guttsait said it was impossible to separate politics and sport while his country was under attack.

“We don’t have life in Ukraine, we don’t have conditions for normal training and preparation for the Olympic Games,” he added.

“At the same time, the Russians have all the conditions to train and compete domestically. They sleep at night and we don’t.”

The IOC encourages the sport to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutral participants, but it remains a decision of the individual federations.

On Thursday, World Athletics said it was maintaining its ban.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the sanction appears to be “the only peaceful way to disrupt and disable Russia’s current intentions” and said Russia’s actions over the past year have demonstrated its “determination” on the matter ” only hardened”.

“I would like to thank Sebastian Coe and the entire World Athletics Board for their support of Ukraine, understanding and solidarity with us not just in words but in deeds,” said Guttsait.