Russian wrestlers refuse to participate in the Olympic Games, the Federation denounces “a competition parody”

The Russian Wrestling Federation announced on Saturday that its wrestlers authorized to participate in the Olympic Games had refused “unanimously” to go to Paris.

Less and fewer Russian athletes for games. After Russia's refusal to send its judokas to Paris, the wrestlers also chose not to participate in the Olympic Games, which will take place from July 26 to August 11. Contrary to what the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announcesthe Russian Wrestling Federation announced on Saturday July 6 that its wrestlers had “unanimously” refused to make the trip, denouncing “unfounded restrictions”.

“We do not accept the non-sporting principle of the selection on which the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was based by establishing its list of authorized athletes and whose objective is to undermine the unity of our team”said the federation in a press release. “Russian wrestlers were able to obtain 16 out of 18 possible Olympic licenses (…) under conditions of threats of sanctions and unfounded restrictions”.

In his list of Russian wrestlers authorized to participate, the IOC finally retained only ten, excluding the most efficient, including the double Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev or the double world champion Zaur Uguev. So, “The unified world of struggle has lost its last chance to see a competition between the strongest at the Olympic Games”estimated the Russian Federation of struggle.

“These are not Olympic Games, it's a competition parody”said the president of the Russian wrestling federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili.

Deprived of their flag and anthem, many Russian athletes have already chosen to give up the Olympic Games, denouncing criteria “Discriminatory”. Others have seen the Olympic door close due to their support for the Russian assault or because they are in clubs linked to the armed or security forces, with regard to the conditions set by the IOC.