Complete absurdity': Usyk slams Russia's sporting return with eye on Fury trilogy

"My opinion has not changed this should not be happening, the Ukrainian heavyweight world boxing champion told the Associated Press. People who support the killing of others, the bombing of civilian cities, hospitals, schools, and everything else should not have the right to take part in the Olympic Games."

"The Russian national anthem has rung out at gold medal ceremonies at the Paralympics in Milan Cortina for the first time in more than a decade. Russian athletes have previously been allowed to compete as individual neutral athletes during the ban. But a speech by Coventry, the new IOC president, during the Winter Olympics last month was widely interpreted as paving the way to Russia taking part in the Los Angeles Summer Games in 2028."

"She said athletes should not by held back by the politics or divisions of their governments. Her comments appear to be the direction of travel in the world of sport. In an interview with Sky News last month Infantino said world soccer's governing body Fifa should definitely look at lifting its ban."

Global sports organizations are shifting toward readmitting Russian athletes after imposing bans following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian athletes competed under their own flag at the Paralympics for the first time in over a decade. FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated the ban on Russian soccer teams has been ineffective, while IOC president Kirsty Coventry advocates for all athletes to compete freely regardless of government politics. Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk strongly opposes this reversal, arguing that athletes supporting Russia's military actions, including bombing of civilian infrastructure, should not participate in Olympic Games. Usyk has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, consistently displaying his country's flag after victories.

Read at www.theguardian.com