Russia issue looms for Paris Olympics, Zelenskyy rebukes IOC
By GRAHAM DUNBAR
AP Sports Writer
GENEVA (AP) — The question of if and how Russia competes at the Olympics hangs over the 2024 Paris Summer Games. Just as it has now for five straight Olympics during Thomas Bach’s leadership of the IOC. The Bach-led International Olympic Committee’s support this week for some Russians to compete in Paris as neutrals was publicly challenged Friday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy wants Russia excluded from international sports while its military is occupying and attacking his country. Russian athletes have been at risk of bans for the past four Olympics because of the state-backed doping scandal. Ultimately they always competed.