08 February 2023 , 12:36
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Oleksandr Usyk has pleaded with the International Olympic Committee not to allow Russian athletes to compete under a neutral banner at next year's Olympics.
The world heavyweight champion is a gold medalist from the 2012 London games, and has parlayed that into a career as the undisputed cruiserweight champion as well as the heavyweight ruler. He has also been on the front line in his native Ukraine during the Russian invasion of the country over the past year.
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has made it clear that after Russian athletes were banned from the games that she does not want a delegation from the country when they host next year's games. The IOC are trying to work alongside international sports federations and national Olympic committees in order to allow athletes to compete as neutrals, much to Usyk's annoyance.
Speaking in a video directed at IOC president Thomas Bach from his Instagram account, Usyk said: "I am a Ukrainian athlete; I won an Olympic gold in boxing in 2012; I am the current world heavyweight champion and my name is Oleksandr Usyk. You want to allow Russian athletes to compete at the Olympics.
"Russian Armed Forces invaded our country and kill civilians. Russian army is killing Ukrainian athletes and coaches and destroying sports grounds as well as sports halls. The medals that Russian athletes are going to win are medals of blood, death and tears. Let me wish you to have peaceful sky above you and to be in good health and happy."
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After an uncharacteristically short break given the delay to the 2020 games, the Paris Olympics are due to run from July 26 to August 11 next year, and will see the full return of crowds. The IOC last February recommended that international sports federations exclude athletes from Russia and Belarus after the invasion of Ukraine in the early part of last year.
Usyk's world heavyweight title defence against Anthony Joshua was delayed until August as he fought for his country, before he left for the Saudi Arabian showdown. He had won the belts the previous September, and ended up waiting the best part of a year to defend his belts.
He is currently preparing for an undisputed title clash with Tyson Fury, believed to take place on April 29. The pair went head-to-head in London back in December, and their teams have been locked in talks over a date and venue for the historic bout later this year.