Participation in the Olympics under a neutral flag is “total nonsense” for Pechstein

Hamburg (SID) Five-time Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein has criticized the admission of Russian athletes to the Pyeongchang Winter Games in the form approved by the IOC. “Competing under a neutral flag is total nonsense in my opinion,” the 45-year-old told Sport Bild. “Either you ban athletes who are convicted of doping for two years - I was even banned for two years without a positive test - or you let athletes who are not convicted of doping compete normally under the flag of their country,” said Pechstein: “Either completely or not at all not." At the Games in South Korea (February 9th to 25th), Russian athletes will be competing as “Olympic Athletes from Russia” (OAR) because of the systemic doping scandal. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) could not bring itself to exclude. “For me, this decision just shows that the decision-makers in the IOC don’t have a shit in their pants,” said Pechstein. The record-breaking Olympian is taking part in the Winter Games for the seventh time in Pyeongchang. The Berliner did not want to categorically rule out a start in Beijing in 2022. "On the one hand, I would like to be there in four years. On the other hand, I think it's a farce that the Winter Games will take place in Beijing. Beijing has nothing to do with winter sports," said Pechstein. The award is "another indication that the IOC officials never get their pockets full enough. It's all about the money."

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Participation in the Olympics under a neutral flag is “total nonsense” for Pechstein

Suggestions

Comments (0)