Stanislav Pozdnjakov, who previously supported his country’s war of aggression, justified his decision very vaguely.
Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdnyakov announced his resignation on Tuesday. Pozdnyakov, who has led the Russian Olympic Committee since 2018, has supported his country’s war of aggression in Ukraine, and he did not provide a clear explanation for his decision to step down as chairman.
Pozdnyakov said vaguely that now is the “right time” for Russian sports to have a new leader.
– The geopolitical challenges facing our country result in the need to enhance and centralize the management of key activities, including sports, Pozdnjakov formulated the reasons for his resignation.
Russian sports were widely shut down when the country attacked Ukraine with full force in early 2022. In October last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended the Russian Olympic Committee. The Russian Olympic Committee has appealed the IOC’s decision to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Full support for the war
Pozdnyakov has repeatedly condemned the restrictions placed on Russian sports. For example, he suggested that Russian athletes would not agree to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics without national emblems.
At the same time, Pozdnjakov has encouraged athletes to participate in Russia’s military operations. He has said that athletes should consider serving the motherland “an honor and a duty”.
In the end, 15 Russian athletes participated in the Summer Olympics in Paris and, according to the special conditions set for them, without national emblems.
Stanislav Pozdnjakov achieved five Olympic medals in his fencing career between 1992 and 2004. His daughter Sofija Pozdnyakova achieved an Olympic victory in fencing in Tokyo 2021, but did not participate in the Paris Games.
Pozdnyakov’s successor is scheduled to be chosen at a meeting of the Russian Olympic Committee on November 7.