MOSCOW, March 9. /TASS/. The Olympic movement is losing its original level due to the absence of Russian athletes from many sporting events, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told Sport-Express.
"The Olympic movement, stripped of Russia’s presence in a number of sports, is degrading and losing its original level," he said.
In late March 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to participate in international competitions only in the neutral status. This permission applies only to those who have not publicly expressed support for the special operation in Ukraine and are not affiliated with the army or police. Also, Russians and Belarusians are not allowed to compete in team events.