Russia’s Evgeny Rylov celebrates along with his bronze medal after the boys’s 200m backstroke remaining on the Aquatics World Championships in Kazan, Russia August 7, 2015. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
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March 23 (Reuters) – Russian double Olympic champion Evgeny Rylov on Wednesday pulled out of this yr’s swimming world championships in Budapest in assist of athletes banned from competing beneath the Russian flag following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Rylov, who received gold within the 100- and 200-metre backstroke occasions ultimately yr’s Tokyo Olympics, misplaced his sponsorship take care of swimwear maker Speedo after attending a rally hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow final week. read more
“In assist of Russian Paralympians, in assist of all Russian athletes who’ve been faraway from worldwide competitions, I refuse to go to the world championship this summer season,” Rylov wrote on Instagram.
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“I imagine that shedding competitors is shedding the event of sport. As unhappy as it might sound, sport can not transfer with out first rate opponents.”
Swimming’s world governing physique FINA mentioned that Russian and Belarusian athletes can solely compete as impartial athletes or impartial groups.
Putin despatched troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 on what he calls a “particular navy operation” to demilitarise and “denazify” Ukraine. Ukraine and the West say Putin launched an unprovoked struggle of aggression.
FINA has already cancelled this yr’s World Junior Swimming Championships that have been set to happen within the southwestern Russian metropolis of Kazan. read more
This yr’s world swimming championships, initially scheduled to be held in Fukuoka, Japan, will run from June 18-July 3 in Budapest.
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Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Bengaluru; Enhancing by Nick Macfie
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
