Vladimir Plyuschev, a former Russian ice hockey coach, attributed Russia’s exclusion from the 2026 Winter Olympics to ‘petty bisexuals like the French, Germans, English, and the Balts.’

Russia has been barred from the Olympics since 2022, following the decision of the International Olympic Committee to impose sanctions due to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this year, there were speculations that Russian hockey officials were in discussions with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) about potentially returning to the Olympics during the upcoming winter games in Italy.

However, the IOC dismissed these reports, dashing any hopes of the country’s hockey players participating in the upcoming games amidst the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.

The IOC stated, ‘The IOC Executive Board’s recommendation from March 2023 regarding teams of athletes with a Russian passport remains effective. This decision is grounded in the fact that, by definition, a group of Individual Neutral Athletes cannot form a team. We acknowledge that the IIHF confirmed that it will adhere to this recommendation.’

Vladimir Plyushchev, a former youth Russian hockey coach, has now hit back at the committee’s decision in an impassioned rant. 

Russia will not compete at this winter’s Olympic Games due to sanctions over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

Former Russian ice hockey coach Vladimir Plyushchev has now blamed ‘petty bisexuals’ at the IOC for his country’s exclusion

‘This news was definitely expected,’ the 70-year-old said, ‘because nothing will change there until something changes on our battlefields. 

He continued, ‘There’s no logic in it; it’s governed by petty bisexuals like the French, Germans, English, and the Balts. So it was pointless to have any expectations. We shouldn’t anticipate anything from them.’

‘There are other countries that treat us loyally, positively, maybe even kindly. We need to work with them, not wait for someone to hand us something on a silver platter. 

‘Sport is diplomacy, just a different form. Let out officials practice this diplomacy instead of drinking coffee in their offices and telling us how hard life is for them because they’re not allowed to compete in the Olympics.’ 

A small number of individual Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to take part in the Paris 2024 summer Olympics after rigorous vetting by the IOC. They competed without the Russian or Belarusian flag and anthem. Instead they took part as neutral athletes because all Russian teams were banned. Belarus has acted as a staging ground for the invasion.

Four Russian figure skaters in men’s and women’s singles were recently approved by the International Skating Union to try to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics as neutral athletes.

Russian hockey players won gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and silver four years later in Beijing. 

Alex Ovechkin, the Russian-born Washington Capitals star and NHL’s all-time leader in goals, had expressed a desire to play in a fourth Olympics next year at age 40. He previously played for Russia in 2006, 2010 and 2014.  

Alex Ovechkin, the Russian-born Washington Capitals star and NHL’s all-time leader in goals, had expressed a desire to play in a fourth Olympics next year at age 40

Ovechkin, a supporter of Putin, broke Wayne Gretzky’s league record of 894 goals this season, but was barred with his countrymen from playing in the inaugural Four Nations mid-season tournament because Russia wasn’t given a team. Instead Canada finished atop a tournament field that included the United States, Sweden and Finland.

The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023 for recognizing regional Olympic councils for Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine – Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

‘This [October 2023] recommendation was made after consultations with the International Federations concerned and the other Olympic Movement stakeholders,’ the IOC said.

‘This position reflects the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee because of its annexation of regional sports organizations on the territory of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.’

‘Such action constitutes a breach of the Olympic Charter because it violates the territorial integrity of the NOC of Ukraine, as recognized by the IOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter,’ the Olympic body said.

The Winter Olympics in Italy run from February 6-22 next year.