Athletes criticise IOC president Thomas Bach

A HOST of international athletes have criticised International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach’s claim that Russians and Belarusians competing as neutrals in their sport “works.”

The IOC has recommended Russian and Belarusian athletes be allowed to compete under a neutral flag.

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk criticised Bach for using her victory over Russian Varvara Gracheva as an example.

Compatriot Lesia Tsurenko said facing Russians is an “ethical conflict.”

The IOC’s recommendation only extends to individual athletes, not teams, and it is yet to make a decision on whether Russians and Belarusians can compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

However, Bach’s claim on Tuesday that the inclusion of those athletes in international competition has already been shown to work was disputed by several athletes opposed to their readmission.

Bach identified Kostyuk’s

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terFellow tennis player Tsurenko said she had struggled each time she had to face a Russian player.