Russia on Tuesday accused International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach of taking part in a “conspiracy” with Ukraine to exclude its strongest athletes from this year's Paris Games.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said two Russian pranksters known as Vovan and Lexus released recordings of conversations with Mr. Bach, falsely claiming that Mr. Bach was talking to African sports figures. He made this claim in response to what he was led to believe.
In a telephone conversation, Bach said the IOC had set up a special committee to monitor the media and the Internet and ensure that Russian athletes who made political statements in support of the government were barred from participating in the Olympics.
In the recording, Bach says in English: “We not only proposed to the Ukrainian side, but also asked them to provide us with knowledge of the actions of such (Russian) athletes and officials.'' I heard it.
Zakharova told Telegram that Bach was involved in a “political, administrative and clearly criminal conspiracy with a certain political party (meaning Ukraine) to exclude powerful athletes from international competitions.” I posted that I tied it.
“The relationship between IOC President Thomas Bach and the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and its officials, as well as the approval of the request for surveillance of Russian athletes, should be subject to a thorough investigation,” he added.
Relations between Russia and the IOC have deteriorated sharply in the run-up to the Olympics, where athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete as neutral nations without national flags or anthems due to the Ukraine war. Participation in the opening parade was also prohibited.
The IOC announced last month that Bach was the victim of a prank, ahead of the public announcement of the prank call.
The IOC has announced the establishment of a review committee to assess the eligibility of all Russian or Belarusian athletes who qualify for Paris. To be allowed to compete, athletes must not actively support the war in Ukraine and must not have contracts with any military or security agencies.
