State Duma sports committee head calls on IOC president to resign following statements on Russian athletes
MOSCOW. Feb 5 (Interfax) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has crossed the 'redline' over its position on Russian athletes and its President Thomas Bach should resign, head of State Duma committee on sports, tourism and young people Mikhail Degtyaryov said.
"What the IOC president said is beyond comprehension, he has crossed the red line," Degtyaryov said on Rossiya 24 (VGTRK) television on Monday.
"What he said after the court decision is outrageous. It's racism. It contradicts the Olympic Charter. If I were him I would resign, and he would be driven away with disgrace," he said.
Degtyaryov believes Bach's statements following the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) are absolutely discriminatory. "He just opened his face [by saying] that the court is wrong if it issues any positive decisions on the Russians," he said.
Degtyaryov is especially outraged by the IOC president's words that he will seek a reversal of the CAS decision using any methods. "It's horrible. Mr. Bach and, of course, the IOC need to be reformed after such statements," he said.