Why were many top Russian wrestlers including Sidakov and Sadulaev not eligible to compete at the Paris Olympics? All about the IOC rule out

With less than 40 days remaining before the 2024 Paris Olympics, the IOC published a list of Russian wrestlers eligible to compete at the 2024 Games. However, the list missed out on a few popular names, including Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Zaur Rizvanovich Uguev, Zaurbek Sidakov and Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau.

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Russian and Belarusian athletes faced a sweeping ban from competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, in December 2023, the IOC reversed the decision and allowed the individual athletes to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) after the athletes received a nod from the Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel (AINERP).

The individual athletes had to prove their disengagement from the war and lack of involvement with their countries' military forces. A few top Russian wrestlers did not find their names on the IOC's list due to their past expressions of agreement with the war.

On June 12, 2022, the 74 kg category Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Sidakov and the 57 kg category gold medalist Uguev marked their attendance at the "Wrestling - Strong People, Strong Country" campaign in Ulyanovsk, Russia, showing their support for the war.

Sadulaev, who secured gold medals in the 86 kg and 97 kg at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, respectively, was banned from competing at the European OG Qualifiers in Baku after failing to meet the terms set by the International Olympic Committee for Individual Neutral Athletes.

The Russian wrestler was found to be associated with Dynamo Club, a sports and fitness society created in 1923 in the Soviet Union. He was declared ineligible by the United World Wrestling Eligibility panel.

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How will the IOC ruling affect the Russian wrestlers deemed eligible to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics?

The list published by IOC features the names of 10 Russian wrestlers eligible to compete at the world's greatest sporting event in Paris with an additional six Belarusian wrestlers. All the wrestlers deemed eligible to compete in the French capital will have to comply with the rules and regulations of the Olympic Games, including anti-doping policies.

IOC published a list of Russian athletes eligible to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. - Getty Images

The Individual Neutral Athletes in Paris are subject to strict eligibility conditions. The Russian wrestlers are prohibited from representing their country through any medium, including flags, emblems, colors and anthems.

No national sports teams from Russia and Belarus, including basketball, water polo and synchronized swimming, will be permitted. No officials or dignitaries from Russia and Belarus will be admitted during the Games in Paris. Russian athletes will undergo additional doping screenings conducted by WADA during the Paris Games.