The IOC did not allow wrestler Sadulayev to qualify for the Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not allow the Russian wrestler Abdulrashid Sadulayev to participate in the tournament in Baku to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris. This was reported on the official website of the Russian Wrestling Federation (FSBR).

This is already the second decision regarding Sadulayev. In February, the two-time Olympic champion from Russia was not allowed into Romania on a Schengen visa and was not given the opportunity to compete at the European Championships.

After the start of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, in March 2022, Sadulayev took part in a rally and concert at Luzhniki dedicated to the eighth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, at which Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke. The IOC stated in the criteria for admission to the Olympic Games in Paris that it will monitor the participation of Russian athletes in demonstrations and political events.

How write Russian media, recently the heads of the NOC and Ukrainian wrestling federations addressed an open letter to IOC President Thomas Bach. They drew attention to the fact that among the Russian athletes allowed to qualify for the Games in Paris, there are those who support the war in Ukraine. The list allegedly mentions Abdulrashid Sadulayev.

Sadulayev won gold at the Games in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, and the 27-year-old wrestler also has five victories at the world championships.

The Summer Olympic Games will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024. Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete in them in a neutral status, only in single sports and only if they are not associated with military departments or security agencies. Russian teams in some sports refused to participate under such conditions.

March 19 at the IOC statedthat 55 Russian athletes will be able to qualify for the Olympics. Twelve of them have now qualified. The names and sports are not specified, but they may include wrestlers, judokas, taekwondoists, tennis players and rowers: previously, the federations of these sports allowed Russians to participate in international competitions, despite Russian aggression in Ukraine.