State Duma deputies who previously changed their sports citizenship are disgusting, Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev said on September 4 during a speech at the EEF-2024 forum.
Degtyarev said he was not against Russian athletes taking part in international competitions in a neutral state. “Why are they so up in arms against our athletes who went to Paris in neutral status? I think it’s unfair.”said.
The minister added that his questions were not for neutral athletes, but for those who have changed their sporting citizenship. “For example, I have questions from athletes who have changed their sports citizenship. I am sure that this raises doubts among the vast majority of Russian citizens.”said.
Degtyarev also expressed his grievances towards former athletes who changed their Russian sports citizenship and now occupy positions in the State Duma. “I am disgusted by people who changed their sports citizenship and then sit in the State Duma.”he emphasized.
However, the minister did not name the specific people he was referring to.
Degtyarev was probably referring to Artur Taymazov, a Russian freestyle wrestler who in 2000 failed to qualify for the Sydney Olympics with the Russian team and began competing for Uzbekistan.
As a member of the Uzbekistan national team, he won the Olympic Games three times (2004, 2008, 2012), but after a doping scandal he was deprived of two gold medals. As a result, Taymazov is officially considered the winner of only the 2024 Athens Games.
Since 2016, Taymazov has been a member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation from the United Russia party.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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