"It's a pity the guys got under the kneading": what is known about the refusal of the Ukrainian team to compete at the European SAMBO Championships

The Sambo Federation of Ukraine refused to participate in the European Championship, which starts in Serbia on September 15.

The reason for this decision is the admission to the competition of Russian and Belarusian athletes who will be able to compete in the tournament in a neutral status, despite the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee.

“We, athletes, coaches and specialists of the Sambo Federation of Ukraine, declare our refusal to participate in the European Championships... due to the decision taken by the International and European Sambo Federations to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in these competitions.

We call on all national sambo federations... to treat our decision with understanding and support us in our struggle,” the official letter, published on the organization’s website, says.

However, this statement did not have the desired effect.

The head of the European Sambo Federation (ESF), Sergey Eliseev, only once again emphasized that the organization does not consider it right to mix sports and politics.

“ESF management expresses its regret that the strongest athletes will not take part in the tournament.

Moreover, the Ukrainian national team includes both world champions and European champions ... It is very important for us that all athletes can compete regardless of political situations, ”Eliseev said in a comment to RIA Novosti.

At the same time, as reported in the European Federation, Russian and Belarusian sambo wrestlers fulfilled all the requirements that were put forward for a trip to Serbia. 

“Ukrainian athletes have long been one of the strongest on the continent and in the world.

From year to year, their teams came to the tournaments in full force, performed in all weight categories of all ages.

Whatever happens around us, we support athletes and want them to grow and develop.

The absence of such a strong team is a big loss for the competition.

However, the Russian and Belarusian sides took into account all the requirements that the International SAMBO Federation put forward for participation in the starts.

These teams will perform in a neutral status, ”the ESF press service explained to RT.

The President of the International Federation (FIAS) Vasily Shestakov, in turn, expressed his hope to see Ukrainian athletes at competitions in the near future.

“Naturally, I would like representatives of all countries to take part in the competition.

But now the situation is like this.

It's a pity, because the Ukrainian team has always been in the top three.

I always exhibited the strongest sambists who showed good results.

Sports bring people together.

And, even despite this situation, life goes on - sport will always serve to bring athletes from different countries closer together, ”said the head of FIAS.

It should be noted that the participation of Russians in the European and World SAMBO Championships in 2022 has been reported for a long time.

Back in early July, Eliseev confirmed this information.

However, there was no reaction from the Ukrainian officials then.

It turns out that in this case they did worse to their own athletes, who were preparing for one of the main starts of the season, but instead stayed at home.

According to the head coach of the Russian national sports sambo team Dmitry Troshkin, the athletes became victims of the political situation.

“I don’t know if this decision comes from the heart and soul or on someone’s orders.

It's hard for me to judge.

And we, after all, have never had conflicts with Ukrainian athletes ... You go out on the mat, shake hands, and then the person becomes your close friend and you go through life with him.

In any country of the world, in any city in Russia, everyone who practiced SAMBO is one friendly family.

We understand that this is geopolitics and this is how the world works.

But we have nothing to share on the carpet, except for sports fair fights.

Of course, it's a shame for the guys.

The Ukrainian national team is a strong team and has always been a serious competitor to us.

Sorry athletes.

I understand that in this situation they just got mixed up, ”said the specialist.

I agree with Troshkin and the president of the center for sports and education "Sambo-70" Renat Laishev.

According to him, this is the decision of the country's leadership, not the athletes.

“I am sure that Ukrainian sambists themselves do not share this position.

They want to compete and so do their coaches.

We have always had a wonderful relationship ... How to get out of this situation?

As my mother used to say: "Son, always look at your plate."

If we train, increase internal competition, we will make our own Olympic Games, our own Spartakiad of the peoples of Russia.

We need to focus on this, to attract young people.

It will be no worse than any other championships, ”Match TV quotes Laishev.

It is not the first time that Ukrainians refuse to participate in competitions where Russians are allowed.

So, in June, the local judo federation forbade its athletes to compete in Ulaanbaatar at the Grand Slam tournament, and also called on representatives of other countries to boycott the event.

However, 28 domestic athletes still performed in Mongolia in a neutral status.