Evgeny Rylov won two gold medals at the Olympics in Tokyo last year; his nine-month ban is mostly symbolic as swimming’s world governing body FINA has extended its decision to exclude competitors from Russia and its ally Belarus from all international events for the remainder of 2022
Last Updated: 22/04/22 11:48pm
Evgeny Rylov won two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics last year
Russian Olympic swimmer Evgeny Rylov has been banned from the sport for nine months for appearing at a rally in support of President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Rylov stood on stage with medalists from other Olympic sports at the event last month and wore a jacket with a ‘Z’ on the chest.
The letter is not part of the Russian alphabet but has become a symbol of support for Russian troops after it was used as a marker on Russian armoured vehicles operating in Ukraine.
A brief statement from swimming’s world governing body FINA on Thursday said it acknowledged an earlier, as yet unpublished ruling, from a disciplinary panel to ban Rylov following his attendance and conduct at an event held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Rylov was the star of Russia’s swim team at the Olympics in Tokyo last year, winning two gold medals. His ban began on Wednesday and covers any international competition. He also lost a sponsorship deal with Speedo last month.
The effect on Rylov is likely to be mostly symbolic since FINA also extended its decision to exclude competitors from Russia and its ally Belarus from all international events for the remainder of 2022.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach indicated he backs disciplinary measures against athletes such as Rylov.
The IOC president made it clear that “the IOC supports sanctions against anybody in the Olympic community who is in support of the war, and continues to monitor the situation,” the IOC said on Friday in a statement on a meeting Bach held with Ukrainian sports officials.
The IOC has previously urged event organisers to bar Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams from their competitions, or, Bach said last month “in special circumstances to at least prohibit any identification of their nationality”.
There has been no word of any disciplinary investigations against the other Russian athletes from sports including figure skating, gymnastics and skiing who also appeared at the March 18 rally.
