The chairman of Russia’s Olympic Committee resigned on Tuesday, in a surprising decision as Moscow faces international isolation over its Ukraine offensive.
Stanislav Pozdnyakov, a five-time Olympic medalist, stated in his resignation letter that Russian sport required a new head for “timely” reasons, but did not elaborate.
“Geopolitical challenges faced by our country dictate the need to optimise and centralise the management of key spheres of activity, including top-level sports,” he claimed.
Pozdnyakov, a professional fencer, was chosen committee chief in 2018 as Russia faced a spate of doping scandals that resulted in the country being forbidden from competing in a variety of Olympic sports for four years.
Pozdnyakov decried the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision, following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, that Russian athletes may only compete as neutrals at the Paris Olympics, and urged Russian athletes not to attend.
Pozdnyakov said sportsmen should view “serving the Motherland” as a “honourable duty” after Russia declared a mobilization of troops to fight in Ukraine.
His daughter Sofia Pozdniakova, who won two fencing gold medals in Tokyo, was among the competitors who did not compete in Paris.
In the end, 15 Russian competitors competed under the neutral flag, earning a single silver medal in the women’s tennis doubles.
Moscow condemned the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony as a “massive failure” and has offered to hold its own “Friendship Games,” but when this would take place is unclear.
Pozdnyakov stated in a statement that when the Russian Olympic Committee meets again on November 7, early elections will be held to select his replacement.