LAUSANNE, Switzerland  Russia announced on Saturday that ten of its wrestlers, who were awarded neutral slots at the Paris Olympics, will refuse to compete.

The Russian Wrestling Federation said that its executives, coaches, and athletes met and “came to a unanimous decision — to refuse to participate in the Olympic Games.”

The wrestlers would have been the greatest number of Russians in any single discipline competing in Paris under the International Olympic Committee’s Individual Neutral Athlete policy, which allowed some athletes from Russia and its partner Belarus to compete during the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia Says It Won’t Send Wrestlers To The Paris Olympics As Neutrals

The IOC earlier stated that it invited ten Russian wrestlers to the Paris Olympics, and their website lists nine of them as having consented to compete, with one declining.

The IOC waited to respond to a request for comment on Saturday’s announcement by the Russian wrestling federation, whether it believed the wrestlers were under any pressure to decline and whether it would support any wrestler who wanted to compete despite the federation’s desires.

The federation opposed the IOC’s selection of wrestlers to invite. It stated that Russians had qualified for up to 16 slots at the Paris Olympics rather than 10 and that six of those invited were “far from the status of Russian team leaders.” The organization revealed the names of elite Russian wrestlers who did not receive invitations and stated that the Olympic event would be devalued.

“Any sane person understands that the status of the Olympic Games as the most significant sporting event is being questioned, and wrestling competitions without Russian athletes will be incomplete, and the champions will not receive the satisfaction of winning the Olympic tournament,” according to the statement.

The IOC earlier stated that it would only invite Russian and Belarusian athletes who had no ties to the security services or military and had not publicly supported the war. They would compete in neutral clothing, not under their country flag.

Some Russian sportsmen and authorities have welcomed competing in the Paris Olympics under such conditions, while others have called for boycotts. Unlike other Russian sports bodies, the wrestling federation sent athletes to compete in qualifying contests.

Russia Says It Won’t Send Wrestlers To The Paris Olympics As Neutrals

Last Monday, the Russian Judo Federation announced that its board had not sent any participants to Paris. Its statement did not explain what its athletes believed. In an e-mailed statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, the IOC said it was awaiting a “individual reply” from the judo athletes. The IOC website displays one Russian judo competitor as having accepted an invitation.

As of Sunday, the IOC website identified 23 Russian competitors from seven sports who have accepted invitations to the Paris Olympics, including the wrestlers. Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, is one of six tennis players who the IOC claims have accepted.

SOURCE – (AP)

The World Boxing Council (WBC) has dismissed Ryan Garcia after he repeatedly used racist and discriminatory rhetoric against Black people and Muslims during a social media broadcast, according to the Associated Press.

“Exercising my authority as president of the WBC, I am hereby expelling Ryan Garcia from any activity with our organization,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman wrote on X, once known as Twitter.

Ryan Garcia Expelled By World Boxing Council Following Racist Remarks

“We reject any form of discrimination.”

Garcia issued an apology to X but has subsequently deleted the tweet.

“I was trolling, and I want all the killing to stop,” Garcia wrote, according to the Associated Press. “I love everyone sorry if I offended you.”

CNN has contacted Garcia’s representatives for comment but has not heard back.

Garcia’s family stated his suspension from the WBC, blaming the boxer’s mental health difficulties, according to ESPN.

“Our family unequivocally does not support any statements [Garcia] has made regarding race or religion – these do not reflect who Ryan truly is and how he was raised,” the statement read.

Ryan Garcia Expelled By World Boxing Council Following Racist Remarks

“Those who know Ryan vouch to this truth. Ryan has been upfront about his ongoing struggle with mental health over the years, and as a family, we are committed to assuring and supporting him to seek the appropriate assistance to navigate this difficult time and address both his immediate and long-term well-being.”

Sulaiman stated in his tweet that the WBC has made “multiple attempts” to assist Garcia with mental health and substance misuse.

SOURCE – CNN

LONDON — For the first time this year, the All England Club is monitoring social media in an effort to help protect Wimbledon players from harassment.

“This will not appear in the public domain at all. We are not going to make a big deal out of it. However, we are scrolling social media for this type of stuff, which implies that we can obtain information we did not previously have. “We’re not just relying on what the player claims has happened to them,” tournament director Jamie Baker said Friday. “Also, if there is something of concern, that’s when our security (team) … can help do something about it.”

Wimbledon Is Monitoring Social Media To Try To Protect Players From Cyberbullying

Baker compared the new endeavor to what the French Tennis Federation did during the French Open last year when it began paying a business to supply players with software that employs artificial intelligence to prevent unpleasant remarks.

“Tennis is doing a lot more of this now, so I think in general, for the athletes, it’s really positive that we’re taking this step,” said Baker, who used to be a player.

He said AI plays a role in the All England Club’s efforts in this area, but people also help monitor what’s being said about competitors online during the two-week Grand Slam competition, which ends on July 14.

Players can sign up for the service and request full scans of what is being shared on social media. Players report that messages might include rage expressed by gamblers who lost money on a specific match, racial insults, and even death threats.

“The basis of it is if they’ve got anything that we think is a concern or worth flagging, ultimately, it’s engaging with the player,” according to Baker. “The benefit of having it is, you do have the ability to … officially register what’s going on.”

Wimbledon Is Monitoring Social Media To Try To Protect Players From Cyberbullying

Following a talk with the player, the tournament may contact the police if necessary. However, Baker declined to comment on whether this had already occurred.

“I guess, if it got to the point where there was any type of criminal activity,” Baker said, adding, “But that would be out of our hands.” We’d send that forward. But we’re not going to jump in and become the police.”

SOURCE – AP