Mudryk among 192 Ukrainian athletes calling on Macron to ban Russian from Paris
Chelsea star Mykhaylo Mudryk is among 192 Ukrainian athletes who have signed an open letter to French President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo calling on them to ban Russian athletes from this summer's Olympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee rejected a blanket ban by confirming Russian and Belarusian athletes, who have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics, will be allowed to participate as neutrals.
The conditions of their inclusion include competing without flags, emblems or anthems of their country.
Athletes from those nations were banned following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The letter from Ukrainian athletes, which includes the signatures of Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Zhan Beleniuk, asked officials to 'uphold Olympic principles' and stop athletes from Russian athletes taking part.
Mudryk, who is set to compete in the football tournament at the Olympics, also signed the letter.
The letter, published by Ukraine's sports ministry, read: 'Ukrainian athletes express our respect and gratitude for your unwavering stance and comprehensive support of the Ukrainian state in its fight for sovereignty and independence against the actions of a brutal aggressor.
'France has become one of the most influential and renowned partner countries of Ukraine, tirelessly providing the Ukrainian people with necessary support and assistance to exercise their right to preserve Ukrainian freedom and identity.'
The letter was also addressed to other French officials, including sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, and Tony Estanguet, the Head of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee.
It is up to each Olympic sport's governing body to assess and enforce neutral status for individual
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