Wimbledon Demands Written Declaration Against Vladimir Putin From Daniil Medvedev and Others for Their Participation

The whole world is currently in disarray after the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The conflict also had an impact on some of the tennis players from both Ukraine and Russia. Currently, all the Ukrainian players are playing on the tour with heavy hearts. At the same time, all the Russian and Belarusian players are competing on the tour as neutral athletes. Meanwhile, Wimbledon recently announced the news that could affect the Russian and Belarusian players greatly, including the reigning US Open champion, Daniil Medvedev.?

Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and others could miss Wimbledon

Recently, sports minister Nigel Huddleston announced that all the Russian players must provide written consent against Vladimir Putin. Earlier in March, he said that Russian players must assure everyone about their stand on the current situation. Now, it is pretty clear what he actually meant.?

?I have had a good meeting with various governing bodies about what we are doing in terms of sanctions and bans for individual athletes. We did make the request to governing bodies relating to individual sports people that if they [Russians or Belarusians] wish to participate in a UK sport, they are independent and neutral ? and genuinely so. We wish to get the assurance of that in a written declaration that they are not receiving money from Putin, Russia or Belarus. That they will not be making supportive comments of Putin, Russia or Belarus,? Huddleston said.?

?We are requesting governing bodies or individual events seek that assurance in advance if they are going to allow neutrals to play. If people are saying they are neutral athletes, we want the assurance that they are genuinely neutral and therefore there isn?t any connection with Putin. If some individual sports or entities choose to do an outright ban of Russian or Belarusian athletes, then we will support that as well. But if they chose to go down the neutral route, then we are requesting they get that assurance,? He further added.?

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Many of the other top players on the ATP and WTA tour from Russia and Belarus could miss Wimbledon

Medvedev and Rublev are not the only two who could miss Wimbledon. Other top ATP and WTA players including Karen Khachanov,? Aslan Karatsev Aryna Sabalenka, Victoria Azarenka, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will also suffer from this. If they miss Wimbledon, it will be a huge blow for them.

Meanwhile, other sports governing committees, such as badminton and athletics, took a major decision about Russian and Belarusian athletes. They banned every player from those two countries to take part in any tournaments.

What?s next for the Russian and Belarusian players?

This news will definitely not please the Russian and Belarusian players. If they give a written assurance, that could potentially put their family at risk. While Wimbledon has a firm stance in regards to the participation of Russian and Belarusian players, French Open officials haven’t announced any restrictions or protocols. We all know that Wimbledon is probably the most prestigious Grand Slam tournament out of all four. Currently, the officials are trying their best to avoid any unnecessary controversies.??

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As of now, Medvedev and others will play the French Open without any major restrictions. As for Wimbledon, we will just have to wait and see.

Will the players give written consent to play at Wimbledon? Let us know in the comments.