Olympics, weightlifting: Russians are not participating in qualifying. Belarusians running for Paris 2024

Belarusians yes, Russians no. at Paris 2024 Olympicsin the competitions of weightlifting (five men’s and five women’s categories) there will be no Moscow athletes. There Russian Federation has decided not to register its athletes for the Grand Prix to be held in Havana between 8 and 18 June, an event which is part of the qualifying process for the Games. Maxim Agapitov, Russian number one in weightlifting, explained that “the conditions imposed by the international federation, based on the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee and similar to those of other sports, are discriminatory and contrary to the Olympic Charter”. Weightlifting is the first discipline of Paris 2024 from which Russia is officially excluded.

In Cuba actually, as communicated by the International federation (IWF), the Russians had been admitted as neutral athletes (as envisaged by the IOC). However, registration by May 15 did not arrive, unlike 13 Belarusian athletes admitted to the Grand Prix. “No signed declarations from athletes or support staff with Russian passports were received by the established deadline (May 15, 2023). Therefore, AIN (neutral, ed) and related personnel with Russian passports have lost the opportunity to participate in the next IWF event in Cuba. The IWF has opted for a no-exclusion policy, as it deeply believes that sport is one of the most powerful tools for unity and international solidarity. Within this spirit of tolerance – it continues – while reiterating its unconditional support to athletes and sporting authorities in Ukraine, the IWF has established the eligibility criteria and conditions of participation in the next event for individual neutral athletes “.

Weightlifting and doping, the complicated relationship between Russia and the Olympics

Russia had been excluded from the weightlifting contests of the Rio 2016 gameswhile on the occasion of Tokyo 2020 Olympics the Russian Olympic Committee had been granted two seats. After 62 Olympic medals under the Soviet Union, Russia reached the podium 18 times at the Games. Following violations of the World Anti-Doping Code, the medals won by the Russian weightlifters at London 2012 Olympicsexcluding the silver of Tatiana Kashirinahave been cancelled.