A few weeks after announcing that Russian players would have to prove their disagreement with their president Vladimir Putin to participate in Wimbledon, after Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian territory, Nigel Huddleston gave a layer of it this Thursday March 31 by outright asking for a declaration written which could set a dangerous precedent.
“I had a good meeting with the various governing bodies on what we are doing in terms of sanctions and bans for individual athletesHuddleston said. We have asked the governing bodies concerning individual athletes that, if they [Russes ou Biélorusses] wish to participate in British sport, they are independent and neutral – and truly are. We want to be sure of this with a written statement that they are not receiving money from Putin, Russia or Belarus. That they will not make comments of support for Putin, Russia or Belarus. We ask governing bodies or individual events to obtain this assurance in advance if they allow neutrals to play. If people say they are neutral athletes, we want assurances that they are really neutral and therefore have no connection to Putin. If certain sports or entities choose to ban Russian or Belarusian athletes outright, we will support them as well. But if they choose to go the neutral route, then we ask that they get that assurance. »
Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 5:50 PM
