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Oleksandr Usyk Speaks Out Against Russian Return to the Olympic Games
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Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk, holding an undefeated record of 25-0 with 16 knockouts, spoke out against allowing Russian athletes back into the Olympic Games.
His statement followed a decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 7 to lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, which had been in place since October 12, 2023, according to The Athletic.
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Usyk expressed strong opposition to Russian participation, stating: "I think it's a bad idea. Those who support the war cannot go to the Olympics, because. Maybe this person killed a Ukrainian grandmother. And then they go to the Olympic Games? This is impossible. Those who support the war are terrorists. That is why I am in favor of not returning Russian athletes. Today they attack with bombs, and tomorrow they go to the Olympics."
Addressing the daily reality in Ukraine, Usyk emphasized the need to highlight the impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
He stated: "I'm not a politician, but a simple Ukrainian guy. We have problems every day because every day Russia attacks: bombs, missiles, ballistics, every day, every night. But we continue to work. What is happening now is difficult, but I know that we will win. We must talk about what is happening in the war, what is happening in Ukraine, because people die every day. "
On July 7, 2026, the International Olympic Committee removed its recommended restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes in international sports competitions.
This decision effectively allows individual international sports federations to set their own entry conditions, transferring complete regulatory authority back to the respective governing bodies.
According to the Russian Paralympic Committee, around 500 veterans of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have been integrated into the country’s national and regional Paralympic teams, with several receiving invitations from the International Paralympic Committee to compete internationally under their national flag.
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