Russian Wrestlers Boycott Paris Olympics Over IOC Criteria

The Russian Wrestling Federation (RWF) announced that ten invited Russian wrestlers will not compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics as neutrals, citing the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) 'unsportsmanlike' selection criteria. Key athletes like two-time gold medalist Abdulrashid Sadulaev and world champion Zaurbek Sidakov were excluded from the invitation list, leading to a unanimous decision by the RWF's executive committee, coaches, and athletes to reject participation. This follows a broader pattern of Russian and Belarusian athletes being allowed only as neutral competitors due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, with the IOC's criteria excluding athletes with ties to the military or those who supported the war. The wrestlers were poised to be the largest group of Russian athletes at the Games. Their withdrawal echoes similar actions by other Russian athletes, such as cyclist Aleksandr Vlasov.