sport news Wimbledon cave in to pressure and lift ban on Russian players trends now
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Russian players will be allowed to enter Wimbledon this year after the All England Club lifted its ban in the face of pressure from the tennis tours.
Players from Russia and its ally Belarus, including former men’s world No 1 Daniil Medvedev and Australian Open women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka, were banned last summer after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, but they will now return - with strict conditions.
It is understood that players will be kicked out of the tournament if they show any support for the invasion, and they are also set to compete under a neutral flag.
The U-turn comes after the men’s and women’s tours stripped Wimbledon of its rankings points last year, fined the Lawn Tennis Association and threatened to take away its licence to hold tournaments such as Queen’s and Eastbourne if they did not overturn the ban.
Wimbledon stood alone among the major tournaments in banning Russian and Belarusian players.
Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to compete at Wimbledon this summer
Daniil Medvedev (L) and Aryna Sabalenka (R) were banned last summer but can now return
Wimbledon officials want powers to ensure the players' neutrality is strictly enforced before confirming their decision, which is not expected until next month.
