Russia May Ban Gold Medalists from Olympics

(ATR) Two Russian Olympic gold medalists have hit out at possible legislation that could bar athletes competing after two Games.

Russian media reports say the country’s lawmakers are considering a bill to stop injury-prone athletes from taking the places of younger athletes.

Evgeny Plushenko, now 32, won a gold medal in the team event at the Sochi 2014 Olympics but withdrew from the individual competition citing a last-minute back injury, an incident that sent shockwaves through Russia.

Plushenko and Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva, who would be blocked from competing at Rio 2016 if the law is passed, have blasted the planned legislation. Russia’s ice hockey star Alex Ovechkin is another sporting legend who stands to miss out on Pyeongchang 2018.

The figure skating star told Russian news agency TASS that the law was inappropriate and incomprehensible.

"How can an athlete, who is strong and has a desire and the will for the victory, be deprived of the right of taking part in the Olympics?" he was quoted as saying.

Having retired after the Sochi Games, Plushenko has said he intends to try and qualify to participate at a fifth Olympics in PyeongChang.

"We have plenty of qualified sports officials, and we have a very professional sports minister. I believe it must be up to them to decide on such issues," added Plushenko, who won his first Olympic gold at the Turin 2006 Games and silver medals at the 2002 and 2010 Games in Salt Lake City and Vancouver.

Isinbayeva, who won Olympic golds at the Athens and Beijing Games, was quick to criticize the proposed law which could prevent her from winning again in Rio.

"This proposal bears no relation to real life," the 32-year old world record holder was quoted by TASS. "Any athlete has the right to compete for as long as they can qualify for the games."

Lawmaker Yegor Anisimov, of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, reportedly submitted the proposal to change the Russian sports legislation to the lower house of the Russian parliament on Tuesday. The draft law was driven by the controversy sparked by Plushenko’s disappointing exit from the Sochi Games.

"There is no doubt that this athlete knew about his health problems earlier on, but he didn’t remove his candidacy to compete at the Olympic Games, thus depriving other athletes of the chance to take part," Anisimov said, according to the Associated Press.

"This will allow other, younger and no less talented athletes to take part in international competitions at such a high level."

However, uncertainty surrounds the amount of support for the bill, which must be passed by a Russian parliament including several Olympians. Among those expected to oppose the bill is figure skater Irina Rodnina, who won three successive Olympic gold medals.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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