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Russian MFA says IOC hurts global sports by discriminating Russian athletes

The spokeswoman was criticizing the recent statement by IOC President Thomas Bach who said Russian athletes could be allowed to take part in the 2024 Olympics under a neutral flag if they haven’t supported the special military operation in Ukraine

MOSCOW, February 1. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday said international sports officials are hurting global sports by issuing ultimatums about the participation of Russian athletes in tournaments.

The spokeswoman was criticizing the recent statement by IOC President Thomas Bach who said Russian athletes could be allowed to take part in the 2024 Olympics under a neutral flag if they haven’t supported the special military operation in Ukraine.

"This idea is based on requirements that are obviously unacceptable for our country," she said at a news conference. "Such unsightly attempts to push our country out of international sports are doomed to fail. But the problem is not this, but the fact that, while being so hung up on pushing our athletes, our sports out of world sports, all these anti-personalities are harming the world sports movement. "

Zakharova said world sports is based on an international legal framework.

"Those who are now the bureaucracy of world sports, who head the relevant Olympic committees and receive a salary for this, and not from the pockets of sponsors, shouldn’t forget that this is not their private business, not their own private affair," she said.

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