Sosnovsky: “Where Russians compete in boxing, we do not participate”

The head coach of the Ukrainian boxing team, Dmitry Sosnovsky, spoke about the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to admit Russians and Belarusians to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris as neutral athletes.

“My opinion is clear: Russians should not be allowed to participate in the Olympic Games. As long as Russia is an aggressor country, as long as it kills our people, our athletes. I think the world is very cruel.

I don't understand what they are doing. These excuses that they shouldn't... There is no excuse for them. They owe everything, their entire nation. There are no good and bad. For me this decision is absurd and unreceptive. We cannot be with them, neutral or not - they are Russians. What changes depending on what flag they fight under?

In my national adult team alone, five or six people died. And that's just boxing. How many sports facilities did they destroy? This is unacceptable to me. I would boycott everything.

I don’t understand the moments when they say: “We need medals.” How can we explain to those who gave their lives and today fight and defend with machine guns?

They contradict themselves. They broke off relations with the Russian Olympic Committee - and here they are allowed to participate in the Olympic Games. They represent Russia, it doesn’t matter what flag they have. They will not give up the fact that they are Russian.

We have decided that where Russians compete in boxing, we do not participate. My position as a coach: I will not be in the same room or enter the same ring with the Russians. My point of view remains unchanged,” Sosnowski said.