'Terror Champions' List Updated
Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) has updated its 'Terror Champions' list on the War&Sanctions portal, adding 15 more Russian athletes who support the war. This brings the total number of athletes, esports competitors, and sports officials on the list to 213. The list documents individuals whose actions violate the principles of fair play and international guidelines, using sport as a tool of political influence. This ongoing effort highlights the complex intersection of international sports and geopolitics.
New Additions to the List
The newly added individuals include:
- Russian cross-country skiers Daria Nepryaeva and Savely Korostelev, who made illegal visits to temporarily occupied Crimea. Both have received invitations from the International Olympic Committee for the 2026 Olympic Games.
- Andriy Kanchelskis, head coach of the Bryansk football club Dynamo, who also illegally visited annexed Crimea.
- Yuriy Borodavko and other skiers from the Russian national team, who are currently serving as members of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya).
- Representatives of the CSKA and Dynamo sports societies, who also made illegal visits to temporarily occupied Crimea.
- Maksym Ryndovskiy, who made a series of anti-Ukrainian statements in 2022 and relocated to Moscow.
- Oleksandra Sayutina, who was present at Vladimir Putin's annual address to the Federal Assembly.
The participation of these athletes in such activities constitutes a blatant violation of International Olympic Committee recommendations for neutral athletes. The updated list reinforces Ukraine's stance on upholding international norms in sports while demonstrating how athletics can be exploited for political purposes. Inclusion on this list may impact the individuals' eligibility for international competitions, as the IOC actively works to ensure neutrality and fairness in sport. This situation underscores the critical role of the global community in countering the politicization of sports and safeguarding the integrity of competition.