Russian athletes have a lengthy history of exclusion from international competitions, and the potential for a suspension from the 2024 Summer Games as a result of the invasion of Ukraine has only contributed to their long tradition of displeasure with international sports regulating bodies.

Since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) authorized Russia’s and Belarus’ request to compete as neutrals at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, there have been growing calls to outlaw this practice.

The US, Germany, and Australia are among the 35 countries that, according to the Lithuanian sports minister, will increase pressure on the IOC by requesting that Russian and Belarusian athletes be barred from competing in the 2024 Olympics.

Ukraine and some of its supporters have already vowed to quit the Paris Olympics if Russian and Belarusian participants compete, despite the IOC leaving it up to global federations to determine whether they should be given a path to qualify.

Former sprinter and four-time Olympian Irina Privalova has been appointed as the Russian athletics association’s deputy director. She vehemently disagreed with the notion of allowing Russian athletes who doesn’t support the annexation to compete under the guise of refugees.

She informed the media that athletes as well as any citizen who disagrees with Vladimir Putin’s choice must not represent the country.