Belarusian tennis players Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka are continuing their preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics as planned, the chairman of the local federation, Sergej Rutenka. The reason for his statement was information on the Tennis Up to Date website, which claimed that the two did not meet the conditions for obtaining neutral status.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has already refuted this information.
“Both Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka , and all our other athletes who have earned the right to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics, continue with their preparations. We are currently preparing their documents for participation in the Games in Paris”, said Sergej Rutenka.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided in December last year to admit athletes from Russia and Belarus to Paris, but with neutral status. The organization has drawn up a list of recommendations to sports federations, and each athlete from both countries must meet certain criteria, with bans including public support for the war in Ukraine, ties to Russia’s military and security services, among others.
The Paris 2024 Olympics will be held between July 26 and August 11.
