Ukrainian tennis player Oleg Prykhodko, who is ranked 123rd in the ATP doubles ranking, expressed dissatisfaction with the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in sports, in particular tennis.

Prykhodko’s case is special, as most Ukrainian athletes spoke out in favor of their withdrawal from the competition, as did Elina Svitolina or Marta Kostyuk.

Oleg Prykhodko does not agree with banning Russians from playing sports

Although he opposed the war in his country, Prykhodko says he ignored pressure from the Tennis Federation of Ukraine and went on to form a doubles pair with Russian Yan Bondarevsky.

“I played several tournaments with the Russian because he is my friend. All I did was play with my friend, nationality doesn’t matter to me because I believe that a person should be judged by their actions and not by their nationality.

I have many friends from Russia and Belarus, my girlfriend is also Russian. All of them help me in every way and always oppose the war. Therefore, I do not think that I have done any terrible thing.

Were there any recommendations from the Ukrainian federation not to play with the Russians? Yes, there were, but since I have my own point of view, I did what I saw fit and did not follow their policies.

In general, I believe that such condemnation of athletes only inflames the conflict even more. Thus, athletes start waging war on and off the field, becoming instruments of war and forgetting the basic principle of sports.

As for the suspension of Belarusian and Russian athletes from the Olympics, I, as an athlete, do not understand this. I understand that for all young people this is a lifelong dream. I believe that sport should unite people.

In ancient times, when the Olympic Games were held, all wars stopped, and now sports are part of war” – Oleg Prykhodkoin an interview for BTU.

Russian and Belarusian tennis players can currently play in both men’s and women’s circuits, but only under a neutral flag. In addition, they are not allowed to compete in any team competition organized by the ATP, WTA or ITF.