Putin demands equal access for Russian Athletes at international tournaments, no politics allowed

In a fiery address at a sports forum in Samara, Vladimir Putin took aim at what he called Western hypocrisy in global athletics. Praising the reinstatement of Russia’s Paralympic Committee, Putin declared that “athletes must have equal access” and warned that politics is “poisoning sport.” As Russia builds thousands of new sports facilities and calls for unity through fair play, the message to international federations is clear — keep politics off the field.