ROC intends to challenge IOC's decision to authorize 3 Russians to change sport nationality - ROC head

MOSCOW. Nov 30 (Interfax) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has exceeded its authority by allowing three Russian athletes to change their sport nationality, while the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) has not authorized that, ROC head Stanislav Pozdnyakov said.

"Yesterday we witnessed another chapter of the farce - a bewildering abuse of power with the use of power to apply 'special rules' and at their own discretion to resolve issues related to the direct and exclusive jurisdiction of the national Olympic committee. In this case, the issue concerns the change of sport nationality," Pozdnyakov said on Telegram on Thursday.

The ROC Executive Committee did not permit Russian-born athletes to move under the jurisdiction of other national Olympic committees, Pozdnyakov said. The ROC plans to demand legally reasoned explanations and protect its rights in line with established procedures, Pozdnyakov said.

The previous day, the IOC approved the transfer of Russian cyclist Valeria Lyubimova to the French team for competing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Greco-Roman wrestler Georgi Tibilov to the Serbian team, and cyclist Mikhail Yakovlev to the Israeli team.