The Russian Judoka Who Supports War And Is Still Being Considered For the Olympics

Last year, Russian athlete Madina Taimazova received a conditional offer to compete in Women’s Judo at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. As of June 28th, that offer is under review. Taimzova’s name is just one on a list of many Russian and Belarussian athletes attempting to compete as “neutral” atheletes in this summer’s games.

The judoka’s case will pose problems for the Olympic International Committee (OIC). After barring Russia and Belarus from the games, competitors from those countries who wish to participate as neutrals must exhibit impartiality regarding the war in Ukraine.

Recently, photos and videos of Taimazova have resurfaced, showing her participating in a “Master Class for Young Judokas from the Donbas.” The event took place in April 2022, and the images were initially posted on the Saint Petersburg Judo Federation’s Instagram page.

The master class, a Kremlin-sponsored event, involved Ukrainian children that Russia illegally deported from the temporarily occupied Donetsk region. The acronym DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) can be seen on the backs of the children’s uniforms.

A photo from the event shows Taimzova posing with the “Z”—a symbol of support for the Russian invasion—displayed prominently on a banner behind her. “For Putin! For victory! For the people!” the banner reads.

Footage suggests Taimzova was a key part of the master class, leading the group of nearly 20 kidnapped Ukrainian children. She carried out exercises instructing on different Judo techniques and posed for pictures. “It was a heartwarming meeting. The children were very pleasant,” she says on camera.

Taimazova’s military affiliations

The masterclass is not an isolated incident for Taimazova. There are many examples of her both giving and receiving support for Putin and his government. She was awarded a medal of military valor by Russia’s former Minister of Defense and a medal for “Merits to the Fatherland” by Vladimir Putin himself—she thanked him publicly for his unceasing support.

One of the qualifications for competing as an AIN is that athletes do not hold any recent or current role in, or affiliation with, the military. In addition to her medals, Taimzova’s Wikipedia page prominently lists her past military experience as a Warrant Officer for the Russian Armed Forces.

Relationship with Putin

The athlete shares personal ties with Putin as well. Taimazova’s coach is the son of Putin’s own personal Judo coach. There is video footage of Putin congratulating the athlete on her birthday, “I wish you all the best, success, and happiness in your private life,” he says from a podium in a room full of Russian athletes. Following the very public birthday wishes, Taimzova released a statement thanking the Russian leader, “It was absolutely unexpected, incredibly pleasant and exciting. Nobody warned that this would happen. Thanks a lot.”

Six months after the “Master Class for Young Judokas from the Donbas,” Taimazova competed in the Russian Judo Club Championships, held in honor of Putin’s 70th birthday. She shared photos from the event on her Instagram page.

IOC Criteria for Russian and Belarussian Athletes

Taimzova’s participation in the April 2022 master class on its own should, according to OIC regulation, disqualify her from competing as a neutral party in Paris this summer.

The Olympic International Committee has outlined a list of principles that Russian and Belarussian athletes must adhere to in order to receive an invitation to compete. Among these is that no athlete can be seen photographed with the letter “Z” or showing any kind of support for Russia’s war on Ukraine. This includes taking part in any activities or communications supporting the Russian Federation or appearing in any media, such as interviews, social media, and even retweets or reposts.

Historically, Russian and Belarussian judokas have not been held to these neutrality standards. Despite findings showing apparent ties to the Russian military, 17 Russian and 2 Belarusian judokas were allowed to compete as neutrals in the 2023 World Championships in Doha. The Ukrainian team withdrew from the championships in protest.

Many hope that the Olympic committee will carry out a more thorough investigation and bar athletes like Taimzova from competing. We are working to unveil Russian and Belarussian athletes' ties to their governments ahead of the Olympics, which will begin in Paris on July 24th.

As of July 1st, no Russian or Belarussian athletes have been approved to compete in the Judo category, though that is not to say that the athletes' bids will not be accepted in the coming weeks.

United24 contacted the Olympic Committee for comment on which athletes have been denied. As of July 1st, there has not been a response.

Banner photo source: Getty Images.