Ukraine's Kostyuk speaks out against lifting of Russia's Olympic suspension

Ukraine's Wimbledon semi-finalist Marta Kostyuk has strongly criticized the International Olympic Committee's move to provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, which could allow Russian athletes to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Kostyuk described the potential inclusion as "terrible" and a significant departure from fair play.

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My thoughts are that it's terrible. I think it's very, very far from fair play for all the countries involved here, not just for Ukraine.

"I 100 percent don't agree with this decision," Kostyuk stated, acknowledging that many others share her sentiment. Despite her opposition, she expressed a sense of resignation, believing that the decision is unlikely to be reversed. Her personal resolve is clear: "I just want to go out there and hopefully beat every single Russian I play in the Olympics, and that's it."

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I 100 percent don't agree with this decision. But I feel like a lot of people spoke out on this issue. They obviously don't agree, as well. I don't think anything is going to change.

The IOC's decision on Tuesday marks a significant step toward Russia's reintegration into the Olympic movement, following its suspension in October 2023 following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev views this as a clearance for athletes to return to the international stage.

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I just want to go out there and hopefully beat every single Russian I play in the Olympics, and that's it.

Kostyuk, however, emphasized that any discussions or actions regarding tennis's approach to this issue would have to wait until after her Wimbledon commitments. She indicated a potential for further engagement with her team, fellow players, and the government on the matter at a later time. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, including recent attacks on Kyiv, has also made it difficult for Kostyuk to focus on her tennis, adding a layer of personal hardship to her public stance.

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I'm sure we're going to do something about it. I'm definitely not going to be doing this before my semi-final match.