Commentator and presenter Dmitry Guberniev told Match TV that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is making a big mistake by not allowing leading Russian athletes to participate in the Olympics, while Russia still remains open to the world.

On Saturday, the FSBR announced that Russian wrestlers who had received an invitation from the IOC had refused to compete in the Olympics. The decision was made following an extended meeting with the coaching staff of the Russian national freestyle, women’s and Greco-Roman wrestling teams and with the athletes. The FSBR stated that it “does not accept the unsportsmanlike selection principle that the IOC used to form the list of admitted athletes, the purpose of which is to undermine the principle of team unity.”

— The decision is very difficult. I understand both the judokas and the wrestlers in this situation. The vector is changing, we hoped that the leaders would go, but this is not happening. I do not give up my position. I understand the judokas and wrestlers in the sense that they tried to win licenses until the very last moment and won them. What happens next is up to the international federations. They decided so, I respect their decision. But I will sincerely root for those who will go to the Olympics from Russia.

At the same time, I believe that the IOC, given these exclusions, is making one big mistake. When you look at Russian sport through such a magnifying glass… If you looked at it a little differently, maybe the situation with judokas and wrestlers would be different. Apparently, they are slaves to the manual. They are trying to continue to erase us. But they will not erase it! We will still remain open to the world, like on Moscow Sports Day – we communicate with an American, a Frenchman, we speak different languages. Sports in the country continue, although it is very difficult for us, – Guberniev told Match TV.

In June, the IOC admitted 10 Russian wrestlers to the 2024 Games as neutrals, including Nachyn Mongush, Shamil Mamedov, Arslan Bagayev, Abdulla Kurbanov, Alan Ostayev, Magomed Murtazaliev, Natalia Malysheva, Veronika Chumikova, Alina Kasabieva and Elizaveta Petlyakova. Chumikova later announced that she would not go to the Olympics due to health reasons. However, Olympic champions Abdulrashid Sadulayev, Zaurbek Sidakov and Musa Yevloyev were not included in the list of those admitted to participate in the Games.

In February 2022, the IOC recommended that sports federations not allow Russians and Belarusians to participate in international tournaments. The recommendations were later relaxed, and in December 2023, IOC President Thomas Bach announced that the organization would allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who successfully passed the selection to participate in the 2024 Summer Games in an individual neutral status. Compliance with the selection criteria is confirmed by a special IOC commission.

The Games in Paris will be held from July 26 to August 11.

• “There is a tendency that the IOC does not allow those who can win Olympic medals” – head coach of the Russian taekwondo team
• “The IOC selection procedure is discriminatory for our athletes” – Pavel Kolobkov