KARAH RUCKER: OFFICIALS IN FRANCE ARE TRYING TO BAN RUSSIAN ATHLETES FROM COMPETING AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS NEXT YEAR. THE PARIS MAYOR ANNE HIDALGO SAYS NO RUSSIAN COMPETITORS SHOULD BE ALLOWED IF THEIR COUNTRY IS STILL AT WAR WITH UKRAINE.

HIDALGO HAD BEEN OKAY WITH RUSSIAN DELEGATES COMPETING UNDER A NEUTRAL FLAG. BUT SHE TOOK THAT BACK IN AN INTERVIEW WITH FRENCH MEDIA ON TUESDAY.

SHE SAID, “IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PARADE AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED, TO HAVE A DELEGATION THAT COMES TO PARIS WHILE THE BOMBS CONTINUE TO RAIN DOWN ON UKRAINE.”

RUSSIANS HAVE A HISTORY OF NOT BEING ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OLYMPICS UNDER RUSSIA’S FLAG.
AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF DOPING IN 20-19 – RUSSIAN ATHLETES COULD ONLY PARTICIPATE IN GAMES IF THEY DIDN’T PLAY “FOR RUSSIA.”

NOW…RUSSIAN ATHLETES COULD LOSE ALL OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY. THE DEBATE ON WHETHER THEY’LL MAKE AN APPEARANCE WILL BE SETTLED BY AN INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE…BUT THERE’S NO TIMELINE ON WHEN A DECISION COULD BE MADE.