IOC's recommendation regarding Russian athletes politicized - Russian sports minister

MOSCOW. March 1 (Interfax) - The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) recommendation to indefinitely ban Russian athletes from participating in international competitions is inappropriate, Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said at a meeting of the ministry's board on Tuesday.

"In our opinion, yesterday's recommendation of the IOC is inappropriate and politicized," Matytsin said.

"Our task now is to assess the legal side of these decisions without emotions, to ensure the return of the funds that have been invested in preparations for events in Russian territory and to redirect these funds to the development of grassroots sports. In the near future, we will start such work and will submit all information to the government. We will present these proposals at a meeting of the executive board of the Russian Olympic Committee on March 3," the minister said.

At the same time, "it is important to maintain dialogue with the administrations of international [sports] federations," he said.

"I hope that these decisions will not be long-term," Matytsin said.

"We will uphold the interests of Russian athletes and their right to take part in competitions. The Olympic movement's equal rights principle has been violated. There is discrimination on national grounds," the minister said.

Special attention will be given to repatriating Russian athletes who are currently abroad and are participating in tournaments there.

The IOC on Monday urged international sports federations to abstain from holding their competitions in Russia and Belarus and to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from taking part in tournaments. The IOC sanctions have been imposed because of the situation in Ukraine.