Tatiana Tarasova: “The suspension was illegal; no one has the authority to throw our country out of international figure skating. Why weren’t the USA or Israel suspended? They do the same things as we do, but only Russia was suspended.”
Tatiana Tarasova criticized the ISU for suspending Russian figure skaters, stating it was unjust and urging their immediate reinstatement.
original source: Sport-Express / Sport24
Tatiana Tarasova commented on the International Skating Union (ISU) planning to discuss the admission of Russian athletes to competitions on January 13. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“I can’t say I’m grateful to the ISU for possibly considering the admission of Russians to competitions. It was a terrible mistake for them to suspend us from competitions in 2022. Politics and sports are different things.
They took away the profession from our tiny and amazing juniors and from our outstanding senior skaters. They had no right to do that. It’s time for them to come to their senses!” Tarasova told.
“ISU will consider the return of our skaters? I don’t like to believe such things without official information. I think it’s long overdue for us to be reinstated. The suspension was illegal; no one has the authority to throw our country out of international figure skating. Why weren’t the USA or Israel suspended? They do the same things as we do, but only Russia was suspended.
I really hope that at the upcoming ISU meeting, a decision will be made to return Russia. Both juniors and seniors should be reinstated immediately. If they care about the development of the sport, they must correct their mistakes. I believe this suspension cost some of our skaters their careers. An athlete’s life is short, and ours was taken away.
I don’t understand why no one at the ISU has stood up and said that Russia should be reinstated. For the past 50 years, we have always been among the best in figure skating. We have always won and developed the sport, so our country absolutely must return,” Tarasova was quoted as saying by Sport24.
Related topics: ISU, Tatiana Tarasova
Many of the athletes not just figure skaters support putin and his illegal incursion into Ukraine. He invaded Crimea right after the Olympic Games in Sochi!
She is also ignoring athletes who were caught doping. Funny how it is always heart medications their grandfather took and it contaminated the athletes food.
The coach who churned out all the young female skaters and dropped them when they had injuries or matured, she should be banned as well.
Russians are sore losers, never gracious in defeat.
She seems to forget why they were banned. Russia invaded a sovereign Ukraine without provocation. The skaters have been visible at rallies supporting the war in Ukraine. It is astonishing to me that this has to be explained again. Until or unless Russia stops the war of aggression they started, their athletes should remain banned, and I’m not even mentioning their ongoing doping program, leaving 19 and 20 year old girls with backs, hips and knees that will cause them pain for the rest of their lives.
Of course the ISU, as figure skating governing body, has the authority to say who can or can’t compete under their umbrella. Just like they can install rules about minimum scores to qualify for their events. Their house, their rules. Competing at ISU competitions, or the Olympics for that matter, isn’t a right, it’s a privilege, and yes, privileges can be taken away.
Also, saying “others are as bad as we are” isn’t the argument *for* them Tarasova might think it is.