"A bomb in the center of London": Vyalbe on how to solve the problem with the admission of Russians

Russian and Belarusian biathletes are automatically deprived of the right to participate in international competitions in the 2024/25 season, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) reported.

The issue of the restoration of national federations The Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus and the admission of athletes to competitions was not even included in the agenda of the IBU Congress meeting in Belgrade.

"The congressional decision of 2022 will remain in force. This means that Russian athletes will not participate in the competition. There is no provision in the IBU rules on the participation of athletes in a neutral status," the organization told TASS.

It should be recalled that Russian and Belarusian biathletes have been deprived of the opportunity to compete at IBU competitions since March 2022, and the membership of their national federations has also been suspended.

Four-time Olympic champion Alexander Tikhonov reacted to the decision of the IBU:

"We are always looking for the culprits. And the fault is only ours, so write. Even before the sanctions, during Kushchenko, Maygurov, we were kicked out because of doping. When can I expect any changes? When we finish SMO and we will be the same giants as the USA. There will be no changes until then. So the fault is ours alone, in all respects."

Two-time Olympic champion Dmitry Vasiliev also did not remain silent:

"The first question is, has the SBR (Russian Biathlon Union) done anything to raise this issue? I do not know the specific information, but since the issue was not even on the agenda, we can conclude that the SBR did not show activity and efficiency. There is no reason to hope that the IBU will make such a decision on its own. There is a gathering of Russophobes there.

If only some big uncle knocks on the head from above, then they will run to return Russia. But in any case, we need to work. At one time, Mikhail Prokhorov had a positive experience in attracting supporters to our position. This is what the SBR should be doing."

Meanwhile, today, on September 28, EADaily reported that similar measures have been taken against Russian skiers, who are being scolded in full.

And that's what three-time Olympic champion, president of the Russian Ski Federation Elena Vyalbe thinks about this:

"I will probably say things that, maybe, should not be said at all. It seems to me that if we had thrown some serious bomb into the center of London, it would have been over by now, and we would have been allowed everywhere.

Russia's struggle with the outside world has been going on for centuries. They never liked us, even when they pretended that they let us go everywhere, they still didn't like us. With a sharpener behind their backs, they always stand. I love it when the country is strong, and, probably, in our strength the irritation of the whole world lies.

No need to guess. Sooner or later, of course, they'll let you in anyway. They have nowhere to go either, because it can't be forever. About a year ago I said that at the end of SMO. Now I understand that even after SMO is over, nothing will happen quickly."