No Chechen athletes will compete under the neutral flag, the head of Russia’s Republic of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov said, commenting on the decision to bar the Russian national team from taking part in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
"It is important for Russians to compete under their own flag. We value our Motherland," Kadyrov wrote in his Telegram channel. He added that no Chechen athletes will agree to compete under the neutral flag.
"The sport is intended to unite people, not to undermine peace. Using sports for personal political interests is a sign of weakness and cowardice," he added.
The IOC announced its decision to suspend membership of the Russian Olympic Committee, effectively banning the Russian national team from taking part in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea’s Pyeongchang. Doping-free athletes from Russia were permitted to compete in the status of neutral athletes.
