Russian world number one Daniil Medvedev might only be allowed to play at Wimbledon if he can assure the government he does NOT support Putin, Sports Minister tells MPs
- MPs on Digital Culture Media and Sport committee quizzed Nigel Huddleston
- Huddelston revealed that the government is looking at placing additional requirements on Russian and Belarusian athletes who compete internationally
- Minister said he is in discussion with the All-England Club as well as other sports
Tennis ace Daniil Medvedev and other Russian and Belarusian players may be asked to denounce President Vladimir Putin and his brutal invasion of Russia, if they want to play at Wimbledon this year.
The government is in discussion with the All-England Club about the participation of players from the ‘pariah states’ in this summer’s Championships.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston has revealed that he is actively looking at the requirements that will be placed upon individual athletes in order for them to participate in international events.
He said talks are taking place with sports as well as other governments to find a common approach.
In tennis, players from Russia and Belarus are allowed to compete as individuals under a neutral flag. However, speaking at a hearing of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday, Huddleston said that may not be enough.
Asked if he would be comfortable should Medvedev, currently the World Number One in the men’s game, play at Wimbledon in June, the minister replied: ‘This is a really important point because globally, or at least many, many countries around the world… we have agreed we will not allow representatives from Russia to compete.
Tennis star Daniil Medvedev may be forced to denounce Russia’s war on Ukraine to be allowed to play at Wimbledon
‘When it comes to individuals that gets a bit more complex.
‘So, we are looking at and talking to various sports as well about this about this in terms of what the response and the requirements should be there.
‘Absolutely, nobody flying the flag for Russia should be allowed or enabled.
‘Many sportspeople have multiple citizenships, or dual citizenships, many of us would be willing to compete as non-aligned, non-flag bearing entities.
‘But I think it needs to go beyond that. We need some potential assurance that they are not supporters of Vladimir Putin and we are considering what requirements we may need to try and get assurances along those lines.’
Asked if he was speaking to the All-England Club about these plans, Huddleston replied: ‘We are in discussions’
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston has said he is looking at the requirements to be placed on Russian tennis players in order to allow them to play at Wimbledon, which could include denouncing Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine
Russian and Belarusian players at Wimbledon may have to state their position on Putin’s war
Huddleston was speaking as Russia steps up its assault on Kyiv. The city’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko today announced a 35-hour curfew for people in the capital, warning it is a ‘difficult and dangerous moment’.
Meanwhile, the government announced a further 370 Russian individuals and entities have been hit by UK sanctions that include asset freezes and travel bans
Pressed again by MPs and asked if players would have to ‘denounce’ the war in order to participate at Wimbledon, Huddleston replied: ‘We are looking at the mechanics of how we could work on that for individuals. We don’t have a solution at this moment in time but we are having those conversations.’
Medvedev, 26, assumed the number one ranking in the men’s game from Novak Djokovic last week, for the first time in his career. However, he is set to relinquish the top spot following a third-round loss to Gael Monfils at Indian Wells on Monday.
Russia has stepped up its assault on the Ukraine capital Kyiv during the third week of war
Russian air strikes hit residential buildings and a metro station overnight in the capital
Monfils, a Frenchman, recently married Elina Svitolina, Ukraine’s biggest tennis star, who watched the match from the players’ box
Djokovic is set to reclaim top ranking next week, even though he was unable to play in the BNP Paribas Open because of the vaccination requirement for non-American visitors to the United States.
When the International Tennis Federation board met at the beginning of the month, it decided to exclude Russia and Belarus from international team events, which include the Davis Cup, the Billie Jean King Cup and the ATP Cup, but it refused to yield to international pressure to ban individual players from competition.
However, Medvedev appears to be aware the situation may change with his country being shunned on the world stage.
‘First of all, it’s definitely not for me to decide,’ he said following is exit at Indian Wells.
‘I follow the rules. I cannot do anything else. Right now, the rule is that we can play under our neutral flag.’
Medvedev has spoken out on the war in Ukraine and appears aware rules may change
The men’s world number one lost to Gael Monfils (L) of France, who is married to the top Ukraine player, Elina Svitolina, who watched her husband’s victory at Indian Wells
Russian Andrey Rublev has protested against the war in Ukraine during a tournament in Dubai
The Ukrainian Tennis Federation has previously called on the sport’s governing body to expel Russia and Belarus from the organisation and their players from individual, as well as team tournaments.
Medvedev will not be the only player affected by any new conditions on participation. His compatriot and world No 6, Andrey Rublev, is also planning to compete at Wimbledon. In total there are three Russians and one Belarussian in the world top 100.
Medvedev, 26, and Rublev, 24, have both spoken out about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the women’s game, there are even more competitors, with seven Russians and three Belarusians in the top 100. Among them are former number one, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, now ranked three.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has spoken out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russian number one Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has previously spoken out against the invasion of Ukraine and insisted she is not afraid to state her position.
Pavlyuchenkova made one of the strongest statements from any Russian sports star as she appeared to directly criticise the actions of Vladimir Putin, rather than just a plea to end the war.
Pavlyuchenkova said ‘personal ambitions or political motives cannot justify violence’.
‘I’ve been playing tennis since I was a kid. I have represented Russia all my life,’ she said on social media.
‘This is my home and my country. But now I am in complete fear, as are my friends and family.’
‘But I am not afraid to clearly state my position. I am against war and violence.’
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