Moscow Says Calls to Ban Russian Athletes from Olympics ‘Unacceptable’

The Olympic rings are pictured in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, May 17, 2022. (Reuters)
The Olympic rings are pictured in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, May 17, 2022. (Reuters)
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Moscow Says Calls to Ban Russian Athletes from Olympics ‘Unacceptable’

The Olympic rings are pictured in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, May 17, 2022. (Reuters)
The Olympic rings are pictured in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, May 17, 2022. (Reuters)

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said on Saturday that calls from ministers of more than 30 countries to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Olympics were unacceptable, TASS news agency reported.

A group of 35 countries, including the United States, Germany and Australia, will demand that Russian and Belarusian athletes are banned from the 2024 Olympics, Lithuania's sports minister said on Friday, deepening the uncertainty over the Paris Games.

The move cranks up the pressure on an International Olympic Committee (IOC) that is desperate to avoid the sporting event being torn asunder by the conflict unfolding in Ukraine.

"This is a direct interference of ministers in the activities of independent international sports organizations, an attempt to dictate the conditions for the participation of athletes in international competitions, which is absolutely unacceptable," Matytsin was quoted as saying by TASS.

The IOC has opened the door for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals.

It has said a boycott would violate the Olympic Charter and that its inclusion of Russians and Belarusians was based on a United Nations resolution against discrimination within the Olympic movement.

"Now we see an undisguised desire to destroy the unity of international sports and the international Olympic movement, to make sport a means of pressure to resolve political issues," Matytsin was quoted as saying.

The RIA Novosti news agency also reported that Matytsin described as "humiliating" a proposal by Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk to create a team of refugees that would include Russian and Belarusian dissidents.



Gauff Taking a Lot of Positives from her Performance in Madrid Despite Loss

Runner-up Coco Gauff of the USA poses with ther trophy after losing the women's Singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Mutua Madrid Open, in Madrid, Spain, 03 May 2025.  EPA/Chema Moya  EPA-EFE/Chema Moya
Runner-up Coco Gauff of the USA poses with ther trophy after losing the women's Singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Mutua Madrid Open, in Madrid, Spain, 03 May 2025. EPA/Chema Moya EPA-EFE/Chema Moya
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Gauff Taking a Lot of Positives from her Performance in Madrid Despite Loss

Runner-up Coco Gauff of the USA poses with ther trophy after losing the women's Singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Mutua Madrid Open, in Madrid, Spain, 03 May 2025.  EPA/Chema Moya  EPA-EFE/Chema Moya
Runner-up Coco Gauff of the USA poses with ther trophy after losing the women's Singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Mutua Madrid Open, in Madrid, Spain, 03 May 2025. EPA/Chema Moya EPA-EFE/Chema Moya

Coco Gauff got past the disappointment of losing the Madrid Open final to Aryna Sabalenka and was celebrating a solid week that will make her the top-ranked American woman on Monday.
The 21-year-old Gauff is set to reach No. 3 in the world, moving past countrywoman Jessica Pegula.
"Overall there's a lot of positives to take," The Associated Press quoted Gauff as saying. “Obviously disappointed with maybe how I played (in the final). I feel like I could have showed up better. But I went from an 0-6 set in the first round and made it to the final, so happy with that. Obviously hoping for more next time."
Gauff lost in straight sets — 6-3, 7-6 (3) — to the top-ranked Sabalenka on Saturday. She had started her campaign by rallying to a 0-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Dayana Yastremska, then picked up straight-set wins over Ann Li, Belinda Bencic, Mirra Andreeva and second-ranked Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. Gauff overpowered Swiatek in a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory.
"Speaking on the week as a whole, on the ground I think today was like the only day where I felt really tested, and obviously in my first round, too," Gauff said after the final. "So there’s a lot of positives to take, and I think especially coming maybe from the last few weeks where I didn’t feel as confident on the ground, I think it is a step in the right direction, and just trying to look at the positives of it all. I don’t like losing, first final loss since the French Open, so it’s a feeling that I know I don’t like."
It was only the second loss in a WTA tour final for Gauff, with the other coming against Swiatek at the 2022 French Open.
"I hate losing a lot, and especially in finals, because it’s like you’re so close," Gauff said. “But obviously if I can lose this and go a few more finals undefeated I’ll take that. Each time it’s a learning experience, and maybe I needed to feel this loss again to be motivated again, even more motivated for the next one.”
The 2023 US Open champion squandered a set point at 5-4 in the second set in the final against Sabalenka in Madrid. She lost 17 points in a row at one stage in the first set on the Caja Magica center court. Gauff had four more winners than Sabalenka, but also seven more unforced errors.
“My first serve has been such a weapon this week, so just wish I could have served better (in the final),” Gauff said.