I did not plan to comment on the exclusion of Russian athletes from international competition. But then I read Lasitskene's letter and I decided that I had to share it with you. Let me be clear on this point: I strongly believe that athletes (or scientists, or artists) should not be punished for the misguided decisions of autocratic heads of state. Sports should always be above politics.
Mariya Lasitskene, World, European and Olympic champion is certainly the best high jumper of the past decade. She missed the 2016 Olympics because of the decision of World Athletics to sanction collectively all russian athletes, following the doping scandal of the russian federation, and ban them from the Games. And she is going to miss this year's World Championships because, once more, the russian athletes are collectively banned.
Her letter to the IOC president Thomas Bach is excellent. She is writing in a very clear way without mincing her words, quoting Bach himself in order to show how his previous declarations are in conflict with his current actions.
Upon reading the letter one thing particularly drew my attention. Lasitskene is saying that over the past seven years she could participate in international competitions for about four years in total. Those are too many missed occasions. An athlete can hope to have more or less ten years at the highest level. (Of course, sacred monsters like Merlene Ottey, with more than a quarter century careers do exist, but they are the exception). And some seasons are bound to be underwhelming due to injuries. So missing out even one or two years for political reasons is a disaster.
Being an athlete, I do feel deeply the frustration accompanying missed occasions. The competitions cancelled due to the epidemic are gone for ever. And the clock is ticking. So, let's hope that the people who have the power to decide will put an end to this unfair punishment of those who are already the victims of the situation.
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