Tarasova called the IOC's decision against the Russians unfair.

Representatives of the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have been engaged in the fruitless "killing" of Russian sports for four years and continue to do so by extending sanctions against athletes from the Russian Federation. This was announced on May 7 by Honored USSR figure skating coach Tatiana Tarasova.

"They want to ruin us, but they still won't succeed. We are strong, and our students are strong, and our team is strong. How can they break their own word like that? They were talking about four years, so how can that be? Will someone ever protect us? The truth is behind us. This is terrible news," she said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Tarasova added that the IOC had received all the evidence from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that the Russians had not violated any rules. However, the organization upheld the sanctions.

The Honored coach of the USSR said that only people who know all about this issue can protect domestic athletes now. Speaking about the IOC, she wished that the children of the organization's employees would encounter the same people as their parents on their way. This, according to Tarasova, will allow them to see what a "wonderful" life they have arranged for "innocent, outstanding" Russian athletes.

"It's hard to train and live without faith"

Pole vaulter Polina Knoroz — about the chances of international disbandment of Russian athletes and motivation to perform in conditions of suspension

The IOC press service reported on the same day that the recommendations on restrictions against Belarusian athletes had been lifted, but continued to apply to Russian athletes. Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev, commenting on this decision, called it disappointing. He pointed out that, in his opinion, there were no grounds for delaying the process against the background of expanding the admission of Russian juniors to international competitions.