Key points
- Ukraine has initiated a review of the “neutral” status of Russian sport climbers.
- Recommendations by the International Olympic Committee prohibit granting such status to athletes affiliated with Russian military structures.
- Open-source information suggests possible links between certain athletes and CSKA and other security institutions.
- Ukraine insists on verifying this information and ensuring consistent eligibility standards.
Ukraine has appealed to the International Olympic Committee and the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) to review the eligibility of Russian sport climbers competing in international events under a “neutral” status.
The initiative was put forward by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine together with the National Olympic Committee and the Ukrainian Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation.
According to the IOC’s recommendations of 28 March 2023, “neutral” status is not granted to athletes affiliated with the armed forces or other military structures, nor to those who support or facilitate Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Ukraine is urging international sports organisations to pay attention to information from open sources regarding certain athletes who have already been allowed to compete under this status. This includes possible links to Russian military structures, in particular the Central Sports Club of the Army (CSKA), the holding of military ranks, and participation in events organised by the security institutions of the aggressor state.
Among these athletes are:
- Dmytro Fakirianov;
- Elizaveta Ivanova;
- Mykola Yarylovets;
- Vladyslav Shevchenko;
- Olena Krasovska;
- Viktoriia Meshkova;
- Milana Melnychenko.
According to available data, some of them may have taken part in competitions organised under the auspices of military structures and publicly expressed support for individuals connected to Russian state institutions. There have also been reports of possible violations of the rules for visiting temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Ukraine expects international sports organisations to verify these facts and provide an appropriate legal and ethical assessment.
The issue of ensuring consistent eligibility standards and preventing the participation of athletes who do not meet the criteria for “neutral” status is also being raised.
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