The head of the International Olympic Committee criticizes the British government for imposing on Russian players at Wimbledon

The British government has been criticized for its “interference” with the participation of Russian athletes at Wimbledon this year by the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach.

The Lawn Tennis Association announced on Wednesday that it has been fined US$1 million (£820,000) by the ATP, the global governing body for the men’s professional game, for banning players from Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine.

It is understood that the LTA has also been threatened with expulsion from the ATP Tour if the ban is repeated in 2023.

On Wednesday, Bach said his organization was working with international sports federations on how to “overcome the dilemma” of Russian athletes participating in the events, opening the door for them to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Wimbledon organizers made the decision to disqualify the Russian and Belarusian players earlier this year after considering British government guidance. Bach said on Wednesday that the UK government’s attitude towards Russian athletes is wrong and that such “political” decisions threaten to undermine all international sport.

“We’ve had athletes from Russia and Belarus participating in the US Open tennis tournament. We have Russian athletes participating in the NHL. The fans applauded them, and they’re all happy,” Bach said.

On the other hand, we had Wimbledon, the British government intervened and forced the Wimbledon organizers to exclude Russian and Belarusian players.

“This is the situation we are in and this is the situation we have to overcome in order for international competitions to be truly comparable and fair for everyone.

“Governments should not decide for political reasons who participates in any sporting events.

Qualification for sporting events should be based on sporting merit, not political interference. This, by the way, goes against all the commitments made by the British government and other governments – unfortunately not the only ones – in agreeing to three or four UN resolutions in the last two years, the latest of which was on December 1st. Where they say they respect the Olympic Charter, which is the IOC’s political neutrality, where they highlight the restorative nature of sporting events and where they advocate for the autonomy of sport.

“It is clear that making a decision, a political decision about a sporting competition, is not in line with these decisions and these obligations and is not in line with the mission of international sport.

“If this continues, our sports competitions and the international sports system will come to an end. Today it is Russia and Belarus. Tomorrow it will be the next country and then the other countries will come back with counter-sanctions.”

“We have to work towards our unifying mission, to stand up for athletes[and]stand up for the international sports movement.”

The ATP and Tennis Association have allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to continue competing as long as they do so under a neutral flag.

The WTA had already fined the LTA and the All England Club for the Russian ban, which the association had appealed.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donnellan urged the ATP and WTA to reconsider.

She said: “The UK has taken a global leadership role in building this international response.

We are sure that sport cannot be used to legitimize this deadly invasion and that athletes representing Russian or Belarusian nations should be banned from competing in other countries.

“Despite widespread condemnation, international tennis tournaments are determined to exclude them from it, with investment in the growth of our domestic sport hampered as a result.

“This is the wrong move by the ATP and the WTA. I urge you to think carefully about the message this sends and reconsider.”

The association said it was considering its response to the ATP’s ban and accused the body of “lack of empathy” with the situation in Ukraine.

Bach insisted that sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian state, including a ban on sporting events being held there and the display of national symbols from those countries, remain severe.

The IOC Executive Board also recommended in February, after the Russian invasion, that international sports federations and event organizers not invite or allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate.

Bach said that consideration of ways to bring back Russian athletes did not represent a change in the IOC’s position, insisting that the recommendation to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes had always been seen as a “preventive” measure to ensure their safety rather than a punishment.