Russian boxers refuse to compete in Paris Olympic under neutral flag
Russian
boxers have opted out of the Olympic qualifiers in Italy that began in
early March and will also skip the upcoming qualification stage in May to avoid
having to compete under a neutral flag, Tatyana Kiriyenko, the
Secretary-General of the Russian Boxing Federation, said on March 19.
“Russian boxers will not compete under a neutral flag because they feel they would be betraying their country," Russia state news agency TASS quotes Kiriyenko.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, boxers from Russia and Belarus have been allowed to compete in most international event only in a neutral status. However, they are still eligible to compete under the Russian flag at events organized by the International Boxing Association, led by Russian official Umar Kremlev.
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are scheduled for July 26 through Aug. 11.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
