Daniil Medvedev has been told that he will be banned from playing Wimbledon this Summer, unless he denounces Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to The Telegraph:
Sports minister Nigel Huddleston revealed “discussions” were taking place with the All England Club over preventing “supporters of Vladimir Putin” entering the sport’s biggest tournament…
Unprecedented sporting sanctions have been imposed on Russia and Belarus over the Ukraine invasion – including being thrown out of tennis’s Davis Cup and Fed Cup.
But individual players have so far been allowed to continue competing as neutrals, including world number one Medvedev.
Giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee, Huddleston said: “It needs to go beyond that. We need some potential assurance that they are not supporters of Vladimir Putin and we are considering what requirements we may need to try and get some assurances along those lines.”
Asked whether individual Russian and Belarusian athletes wanting to come to the UK would be required to “denounce” Putin’s invasion, Huddleston said the details were still being discussed, including with other countries.
He added: “It would be better if we can decide some broad global consensus on this.”
Medvedev removed the Russian flag from his Instagram account following the invasion and posted an impassioned call for peace in the world after replacing Novak Djokovic at the top of the men’s rankings.
This is sickening and it sets a terrifying precedent. The ATP Tour should stand firmly behind Medvedev and tell the UK government that they will not allow players to be used as puppets in a propaganda war.
And where does it end? If a government can get away with threatening to ban athletes unless they publicly swear allegiance to that government’s policies, they’ll eventually do it to you and me.
Imagine a world where you are banned from participating in society unless you make a series of affirmations.
Do you believe in the climate crisis? Do you believe vaccines are safe and effective? Do you believe that someone can be born in the wrong body?
It’s not much of a stretch is it?
