“Those performing under a neutral flag should be equated with those who changed their citizenship” – Kremlin

President of the International Boxing Association (IBA) Umar Kremlev told Match TV that those athletes who compete under a neutral flag at international competitions must be equated with those who have changed their sports citizenship.

On Wednesday, at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev said that he is disgusted by those athletes who change their sports citizenship.

— If we talk about those who perform without the flag and anthem, they should be equated with those who change their sports citizenship. It turns out that someone gives their life for the flag, and someone is supported because they are going to compete as a neutral athlete. And such people should be outcasts from society.

We have no conflict with Mikhail Degtyarev. We meet, we see each other, we have condemned this issue more than once. But every person has his own position, my position is to defend the interests of our country, for me this is the main thing. The flag and anthem are a symbol of the country, how can you support people who refuse them? — the Kremlin told a Match TV correspondent on the sidelines of the EEF.

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