The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should ban Russia from the Olympic Games in Paris, according to heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk’s countryman, Wladimir Klitschko, has also maintained that Russia should not be permitted to participate in the upcoming Olympics. Russia is currently engaged in a military conflict with Ukraine, which has had consequences far beyond its borders.
“I am a Ukrainian athlete. I won an Olympic gold in boxing in 2012. I am the current world heavyweight champion,” Usyk said to IOC President Thomas Bach.
“You want to allow Russian athletes to compete at the Olympics. Russian armed forces invaded our country and kill civilians. The Russian army is killing Ukrainian athletes and coaches and destroying sports grounds as well as sports halls. The medals that Russian athletes are going to win are medals of blood, deaths and tears.”
The IOC recently allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the Olympics, but their national flags and anthems will not be allowed.
A year ago, Usyk returned to Ukraine to assist the local military in combating Russian forces.
The Ukraine superstar is currently in serious negotiations to face the WBC world champion Tyson Fury. The fight is expected to take place in the Middle East or in Wembley Stadium in the UK.