Russian Olympic cycling medallists barred over Ukraine

Two Russian track cyclists who won medals at the Tokyo Olympics have been ruled ineligible to race for breaching rules monitoring their neutrality during the war on Ukraine.

Anastasiia Voinova and Mariya Novolodskaya cannot race in International Cycling Union (UCI) events from Thursday, the governing body said in a document posted on its website.

The ban comes just weeks before the start of the sport’s world championships, which will be held in August in Glasgow, Scotland.

“This ineligibility will apply for as long as the ‘ad hoc rules’ regarding Russia and Belarus remain in force,” the UCI said, without detailing the breaches.

A rules update published on May 3 takes effect on Thursday and specifies “the strictest neutrality towards the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus at any time since the beginning of the war in Ukraine is required” to race in UCI events.

The UCI can deny neutral status to riders or officials “who are or have been contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military” or who have shown support for the war in interviews or social media posts.

Taking part in pro-war demonstrations or displaying the ‘Z’ symbol associated with the invasion of Ukraine can also result in disqualification.

At the Olympics held in 2021, Voinova took bronze in the women’s team sprint on the track. She had collected silver in the event at the 2016 Games in Rio.

The 30-year-old is also a multiple world champion.

Novolodskaya took bronze in the women’s madison in Tokyo. She will turn 25 during the 2024 Paris Olympics that she is now at risk of missing.

The International Olympic Committee has asked governing bodies of sports due to be contested at the Paris Games to look at reintegrating Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to international events.

The UCI also ruled ineligible Aleksei Obydennov, who competed at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

Two Russian cyclists, Gleb Syritsa and Aleksei Medvedev, were ruled eligible to race.