Tennis,
Feb 20, 9:57 pm
The head of the ATP said he does not believe in the “collective guilt” of the Russians
Andrea Gaudenzi believes that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be able to compete and say what they think
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(Photo: imago images / Global Look Press)
President of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Andrea Gaudenzi told Globo that the Russian athletes did nothing wrong to be suspended from the competition.
ATP admitted Russians and Belarusians to tournaments in a neutral status, and in May deprived Wimbledon of rating points for the organizers’ refusal to allow tennis players from the two countries.
Gaudenzi noted that the ATP “largely adheres to the instructions of the IOC” – players from Russia and Belarus cannot compete in team competitions under their own flags.
“In general, we do not believe in collective guilt. These guys didn’t do anything wrong. They have played tennis all their lives. We believe that for the sake of fairness, they should be given opportunities, like everyone else. We also believe that they should have the opportunity to compete and the right to vote, the right to say what they think,” Gaudenzi said.
Opponents of Russia’s admission to the Olympics did not threaten in a letter to the IOC
A similar policy towards athletes from Russia and Belarus is followed by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
The head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, has repeatedly cited tennis as an example of the possible participation of athletes of the two countries in competitions in a neutral status.
Most international federations still do not allow Russian athletes to compete under their auspices. At the end of January, the IOC announced that it was looking for an option to return Russians and Belarusians to competitions in a neutral status.
Anna Satdinova.
