On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the possibility of a Russian flag being present at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This decision comes after Russia was banned from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics due to doping violations.
Macron stated that the decision to not allow a Russian flag at the Paris Games was made out of respect for the athletes who have been affected by doping violations. He said, “We cannot accept that a country that has been found guilty of doping can take part in the Olympic Games.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had previously allowed Russia to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics under a neutral flag, but Macron said that this was not an option for the 2024 Paris Games. He said, “We will not accept any form of participation from Russia in the 2024 Paris Games.”
The IOC has yet to respond to Macron’s statement, but it is likely that they will respect his decision. The IOC has been vocal about its commitment to clean sport and has taken a hard stance against doping violations.
The decision to not allow a Russian flag at the Paris Games is sure to be controversial, as many Russian athletes have expressed their disappointment at not being able to compete in the Olympics. However, Macron’s decision is a strong statement against doping and sends a clear message that cheating will not be tolerated in sport.