Athletes from Russia and Belarus, Moscow's
ally, were banned from competition following the Kremlin's
invasion of Ukraine last year, but the rules announced at the
IOC's Lausanne headquarters seek to allow a gradual return to
world sport.
Stanislav Pozdnyakov, president of the Russian Olympic
Committee, told a news conference that he opposed any notion of
Russian and Belarusian athletes competing as neutrals with no
use of flags or anthems allowed.
He also denounced the imposition of additional anti-doping
procedures for Russian competitors -- a measure linked to
previous doping scandals.
"The parameters as announced are absolutely unacceptable. This
is discrimination on the basis of nationality, as repeatedly
noted by international human rights specialists...," Pozdnyakov
told a news conference, a video clip of which was posted on his
Telegram account.
"Neutral status is a violation of human rights... We believe the
proposed conditions to be groundless, void of legal basis and
excessive.
"We categorically disagree with conducting additional
anti-doping procedures as regards Russian athletes."
The IOC decision, he said, amounted to "an acknowledgment of
their error" when the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes was
introduced days after Russian troops moved into Ukraine.
The IOC, now keen to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes come
back across all sports, has set out a pathway for these
competitors to earn Olympic slots through Asian qualifying.
Ukraine has spearheaded a campaign to boycott the Paris Olympic
Games should they compete, even as neutrals.
(Reporting by Ron PopeskiEditing by David Goodman and Toby
Davis)
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