Usyk Condemns Softening Stance on Russian Athletes

Ukrainian boxing champion says Russian athletes should not compete while their country is at war with Ukraine.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 8:12pm

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Oleksandr Usyk, the Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion, has strongly criticized the world of sports for softening its stance on allowing Russian athletes to compete internationally. Usyk believes Russian athletes should not be allowed to participate in events like the Olympics while their country is at war with Ukraine. He argues that people who support the killing of civilians should not have the right to compete as athletes.

Why it matters

Usyk's stance represents the continued resolve of many Ukrainians who have faced the devastation of the Russian invasion. As the world of sports appears to be easing restrictions on Russian participation, Usyk's defiant position highlights the ongoing tensions and the difficulty of reconciling sports and politics in the context of the war.

The details

Usyk, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers in history, has been a symbol of Ukrainian strength during the conflict. He proudly wraps himself in the Ukrainian flag after each win. Usyk is critical of the recent decisions by sports governing bodies like the IOC and FIFA to allow Russian athletes to compete under their own flag, arguing that this is "complete absurdity." He believes that people who follow orders to kill and launch missiles at another country should not be allowed to compete as athletes.

  • The Russian national anthem has rung out at gold medal ceremonies at the Paralympics in Milan Cortina for the first time in more than a decade.
  • IOC president Kirsty Coventry's comments during the Winter Olympics last month were widely interpreted as paving the way for Russia to take part in the Los Angeles Summer Games in 2028.
  • FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in an interview last month that world soccer's governing body should "definitely" look at lifting its ban on Russia.

The players

Oleksandr Usyk

The Ukrainian heavyweight world boxing champion who has been a defiant symbol of his country's strength during the conflict with Russia.

Kirsty Coventry

The new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who has suggested that all athletes should be allowed to "compete freely" regardless of the politics of their governments.

Gianni Infantino

The president of FIFA, the international governing body of association football, who has said the international ban on Russian soccer teams "has not achieved anything" and that FIFA should "definitely" look at lifting the ban.

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What they’re saying

“My opinion has not changed — this should not be happening. People who support the killing of others, the bombing of civilian cities, hospitals, schools, and everything else should not have the right to take part in the Olympic Games.”

— Oleksandr Usyk

“The Olympic Games were created as games of peace. But now someone who kills on another person's orders and launches missiles at another country is allowed to take part in sport — that is complete absurdity.”

— Oleksandr Usyk

What’s next

Usyk is scheduled to return to the ring on May 23 to face kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in Egypt. He also wants to have a trilogy fight with British boxer Tyson Fury, whom he has already beaten twice, though the location of that fight is still to be determined.

The takeaway

Usyk's unwavering stance against allowing Russian athletes to compete internationally while their country is at war with Ukraine underscores the continued tensions and the difficulty of separating sports from politics in the context of the ongoing conflict. His position represents the resolve of many Ukrainians who have endured the devastation of the Russian invasion.