Players of the basketball club 'Desna' were banned for betting with bookmakers, leading to a decisive action by the Russian Basketball Federation. Their involvement in such activities could harm the reputation of sporting competitions. The players will be eligible to play again in December 2027. During this time, the 'Desna' team is showing quite strong results in the Russian championship.
The involvement of other athletes in events supporting Putin has sparked a wave of criticism and protests in the public. The neutrality of some athletes, such as Oleksandra Syautina, has become a subject of controversy due to their participation in propaganda events and violations of recommendations from international sports organizations.