Russia accuses EU of obstructing athletes from international competitions

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov has accused European nations of ignoring International Olympic Committee (IOC) requirements regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. During a meeting at the Kremlin with President Vladimir Putin, Degtyaryov stated that the EU is either denying visas or organizing provocations to prevent athletes from competing.

The minister noted that the IOC now requires host countries to provide written guarantees that all athletes, including those from Russia and Belarus, will be admitted. He suggested that European nations are failing to meet these obligations. This follows recent incidents where gymnasts, including world champion Angelina Melnikova, were denied visas for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, sports leaders in Great Britain have expressed concern over the lack of a coherent global position regarding Russia's involvement in upcoming events like the LA28 Olympics. Critics point to inconsistent approaches between the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and various international sport federations as the deadline for the Los Angeles games approaches.