Two-time Olympic champion in biathlon Dmitry Vasilyev has shared his thoughts on the return of Russian athletes to international competitions under a neutral status. His comments were reported by Sport24.
The former athlete described the acquisition of neutral status as humiliating. “I oppose it because athletes represent our country. A sense of self-respect should be present?!” he stated.
Earlier, Mark Adams, the director of communications for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), mentioned that the organization will continue to assist Russian athletes in participating in international competitions under a neutral status. In particular, World Aquatics has eased the eligibility criteria, allowing domestic athletes to compete at the short course world championships.
Since the end of February 2022, the majority of Russian athletes have been barred from tournaments based on the IOC's recommendations. Some athletes have been granted the opportunity to compete on the world stage under a neutral status.