Two-time Olympic champion in Tokyo Evgeny Rylov fell out of favor with the leaders of the International Swimming Federation (FINA). Our athlete was suspended from international starts for nine months. At domestic competitions under the auspices of FINA, the Russian swimmer is also prohibited from performing. And yet the country will see its hero at the Russian Championship in Kazan. The WFTU opposed the humiliating verdict and allowed Evgeny to compete.

Actions contrary to the prohibitions of an international organization carry risks. But how much can you be humiliated?

Punishment for the rally

The International Swimming Federation on the eve decided to suspend world, European and Olympic champion Evgeny Rylov from their competitions for nine months. Bearing in mind the misadventures of Russian sports in recent years, one could assume that our swimmer had some problems with doping tests. But no, the 25-year-old athlete is clear with this question. FINA punished him for participating in a festive event.

– The FINA Bureau took into account the decision of the FINA Disciplinary Commission to suspend Evgeny Rylov from competitions and events held under the auspices of FINA, including any international competitions included in the FINA calendar, for a period of nine months after the presence and behavior of Mr. Rylov at the event, which took place at the stadium Luzhniki in Moscow, the International Swimming Federation said in a statement.

Photo: © RIA Novosti / Alexander Wilf

The event, the name of which FINA for some reason ignored, was a rally-concert held on March 18, 2022 at the Luzhniki stadium in honor of the Day of the reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia. That is, an organization that should, in theory, be outside of politics, forbids an athlete to take part in a holiday held within his country.

Maybe Rylov somehow behaved differently at the stadium, since his behavior was noted in the message? But no. The athlete did not slander FINA, did not perform offensive ditties about the members of the disciplinary commission of this organization. He just appeared there and sang the national anthem along with other Russian athletes. Yes, yes, the one that, on dubious grounds, is banned at international competitions. Is this really a reason for sanctions? Judging by the actions of FINA officials, it is.

hypocritical ban

The punishment for Eugene turned out to be no less absurd than the reason for which he fell out of favor. Our athletes were already excommunicated from international competitions. On the eve of FINA, they introduced specifics – until the end of 2022, Russians and Belarusians are not expected to compete. That is, Rylov, even without personal bans, had no chance of getting into foreign tournaments in the foreseeable future. However, there was an extremely unpleasant nuance for our champion.

“Rylov is prohibited from participating in all starts at all competitions and events under the auspices of FINA, including the national championships of Russia, during the suspension period,” Match TV quotes the press service of the International Swimming Federation.

In other words, the leaders of international navigation have shown the height of hypocrisy. Having removed the Russians from any foreign starts, they also decided to indicate which of our athletes to participate in domestic tournaments, and who simply stand on the sidelines. In the All-Russian Swimming Federation, they considered that FINA was frankly going too far and decided to act in their own way.

– The current championship of Russia is not a start under the auspices of FINA, Rylov will perform in Kazan, – Vladimir Salnikov, president of the WFTU, told Match TV.

Photo: © RIA Novosti / Maxim Bogodvid

In fact, of course, the situation is ambiguous – the International Swimming Federation may have a different opinion about the status of the Russian Championship. The WFTU is playing with fire, challenging colleagues from the international federation. Of course, we run the risk of running into another batch of punishments for our swimmers …

But how long can you endure stupid bans and outright disrespect from organizations that have long gone beyond their powers? Our athletes have the right to sing the anthem in their country, since they are forbidden to do so outside of it. And no one can forbid them to participate in internal tournaments either.