Russia's Wrestlers Decline Participation in Paris Olympics as Neutrals

In a recent development, Russia has announced that 10 of its wrestlers have decided to decline the opportunity to compete at the Paris Olympics as neutrals. The decision was made collectively by officials, coaches, and athletes of the Russian wrestling federation, citing a refusal to participate in the Olympic Games. This group of wrestlers would have been the largest contingent of Russians in a single sport at the Paris Olympics under the Individual Neutral Athlete program initiated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) amid the conflict in Ukraine. The IOC had extended invitations to 10 Russian wrestlers for the Paris Olympics, with nine initially agreeing to compete and one declining. The Russian wrestling federation expressed dissatisfaction with the IOC's selection process, highlighting that Russians had qualified for up to 16 spots, not just 10. The federation criticized the exclusion of top Russian wrestlers from the invitations, claiming that the absence of Russian athletes would diminish the value of the Olympic event and undermine the essence of the competition. The IOC's criteria for issuing invitations to Russian and Belarusian athletes included having no ties to security services or military and not publicly supporting the war. While some Russian athletes and officials supported competing under these conditions, others advocated for boycotts. Notably, the Russian judo federation had previously decided not to send any athletes to Paris, although one judo competitor from Russia had accepted an invitation according to the IOC website. Overall, as of the latest update, 23 Russian athletes across seven sports, including wrestlers, had accepted invitations for the Paris Olympics. The situation underscores the ongoing complexities surrounding Russian participation in international sporting events amidst geopolitical tensions and conflicts. The decision of these wrestlers to decline competing as neutrals reflects broader debates within the Russian sporting community regarding principles, representation, and the integrity of major sporting competitions like the Olympic Games.