The world of sport is showing signs of softening its stance on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but Ukrainian heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk remains firmly opposed. Russian athletes are now competing under their own flag at the Paralympics, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino and IOC president Kirsty Coventry have advocated allowing athletes to “compete freely,” regardless of their government’s actions.
Usyk, a symbol of Ukrainian resilience and one of the most dominant heavyweights of his era, has publicly condemned Russia’s reintegration into elite sport. “People who support the killing of others, the bombing of civilian cities, hospitals, schools, and everything else should not have the right to take part in the Olympic Games,” he told the Associated Press.
The Russian national anthem was recently heard at gold medal ceremonies at the Milan-Cortina Paralympics, marking a significant shift from previous restrictions that only allowed Russian athletes to compete as neutrals. Coventry’s recent comments during the Winter Olympics suggested that athletes should not be barred due to their governments’ politics, signaling potential participation by Russia in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games.
Infantino has also indicated that FIFA is considering lifting its ban on Russian soccer teams. Usyk, however, insists that sport must continue to take a stand. “The Olympic Games were created as games of peace. But now someone who kills on another person’s orders and launches missiles at another country is allowed to take part in sport — that is complete absurdity,” he said.
Usyk is set to return to the ring against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in Egypt on May 23 and has expressed interest in a trilogy fight with Tyson Fury, whom he has already beaten twice. Both previous fights with Fury were staged in Saudi Arabia, a country that has become a major venue for international sport, including F1, tennis, and the 2034 soccer World Cup.
