The International Cycling Union (UCI) reported this Wednesday have agreed that Russian and Belarusian cyclists can compete as ‘neutral individual athletes’ from June 1 in the tests organized by him, and they can do it with their team, as long as it is not of Russian or Belarusian nationality.
The UCI allows, “under strict conditions, the participation of cyclists of Russian and Belarusian sports nationality as ‘neutral individual athletes’ in events on the international calendar, including World Cup and Nations events Cup and the Championships of the World, without having any involvement or contact with Russia or Belarus, their national federations or their national Olympic committees,” he said in a statement.
The body says “any person wishing to obtain the status of ‘neutral individual athlete’ must apply within the framework of a procedure that will lead, if the conditions are met, to the issuance of this law” and that “the possibility of participating in international competitions as a ‘neutral individual athlete’ will take effect from June 1” .
It also indicates that they can do so “with their UCI-registered team (or club team) as long as the team is not of Russian or Belarusian nationality.”
Athletes who have obtained the status of ‘neutral individual’ may not have any contractual or other links to the Russian and Belarusian armies or to any state security agency. Also, they may not be associated “in any way with Russian or Belarusian flags, emblems, anthems or any other symbols, or “actively support the war in Ukraine in any form of verbal, non-verbal or written expression.”
The UCI reiterated “his strong condemnation of the aggression against Ukraine by the Russian government, supported by Belarusian”, and calls “again for a speedy resolution of the conflict in accordance with the provisions of international law.”
It also emphasizes “the right of all athletes, regardless of their nationality, to be treated without discrimination, as requested by the experts commissioned by the United Nations Organization to conduct a study on the situation of human rights in world in its conclusions of February 1, 2023”.
Regarding its support for Ukraine, the UCI also decided to “continue its financial support to the Ukrainian cycling federation and its athletes with a new financial contribution of 100,000 Swiss francs, of which 20,000 will be allocated by the European Cycling Union. .
agreed too “to welcome cyclists aspiring to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the UCI World Cycling Center in Aigle (Switzerland)with the aim of qualifying maximum Ukrainians for the said tournament”.
The UCI will also provide technical and material support to the Ukrainian federation “so that its riders can continue training and competing, as was done in 2022, when assistance vehicles were made available to Ukrainian riders and staff, and a credit of 600,000 Swiss francs for this purpose, making the UCI the first International Federation in the world to support Ukrainian athletes.”
Source: La Verdad
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