Ukrainian athletes were fined for refusing to listen to the Russian national anthem at an awards ceremony in Hungary
Ukrainian para-armwrestlers Dmytro Lutsyshyn and Dmytro Brukhno were fined after leaving the podium during the playing of the Russian national anthem at an international tournament in Budapest.
The incident occurred at the competition, which took place in the Hungarian capital from May 8 to 20. Brukhno won the silver medal, Lutsyshyn won the bronze, and the winner was a representative of Russia. After the Russian anthem began playing, the Ukrainian athletes left the award ceremony.
According to Dmytro Lutsyshyn, the organizers explained the punishment as a violation of the ceremony’s regulations.
“I didn’t want to stand next to an opponent whose country is an aggressor against my country. It was unacceptable to listen to the anthem of an aggressor country,” the athlete noted.
After the award ceremony, Lutsyshyn underwent a doping test, during which he was also asked about the reasons for his actions. The athlete explained that a war is ongoing in Ukraine and he does not consider it possible to stand on the podium while the Russian anthem is being played.
According to him, Russian athletes behaved provocatively during the tournament, but the Ukrainian team tried not to react to such actions.
The fine for each of the Ukrainian athletes was 250 euros.
Dmytro Lutsyshyn is a multiple medalist at the World and European Para-Armwrestling Championships, and Dmytro Brukhno is a European champion and medalist at world championships among athletes with visual impairments.
Source: Suspilne.
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