The British Government has insisted on its intention that Russian and Belarusian athletes who come to compete in the United Kingdom declare their neutrality and independence from Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
This implies that athletes like Daniil Medvedevnumber two in the world and who will be number one with one more victory in Miami, may have their participation in Wimbledon, which takes place in the British capital at the end of June, compromised.
Medvedev is not the only Russian affected by these measures, as Andrey Rublev (7), Karen Khachanov (25) and Aslan Karatsev (32) are inside the top 100 and, under normal conditions, they would participate in the third Grand Slam of the season. As for women, the most striking case is that of Aryna Sabalenka, number five in the world, in addition to the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (14) and the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (16).
The ATP and WTA have not suspended players from these countries and only require them to play with the neutral flag and without symbols of their country. However, the British Government wants to go one step further.
“I have had a few meetings with various sports bodies to discuss possible sanctions and bans on individual athletes.”said Nigel Huddleston, Britain’s sports minister.
“We have asked these entities that if Russian and Belarusian athletes want to participate in competitions in the United Kingdom they have to be independent and neutral. Really. We want it to be done in a written statement, that they do not receive money from President Putin, nor from Russia. or Belarus. That they will also not make any supportive comments for Putin, Russia or Belarus,” Huddleston added.