Olympic swimming champion suspended nine months for supporting Putin

Russian Olympic champion Evgeny Rylov has been suspended for nine months by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) after he attended a rally organized by Russian President Vladimir Putin justifying the invasion of Ukraine. The sanction came into effect on April 20, and the swimmer will not be allowed to participate in any official competitions during that time, the governing body of aquatic sports said in a statement.

Despite the sanction, the Russian swimmers were already banned from the World Championships in Budapest in June and the European Championships in Rome in August. However, Rylov will not be able to return to the pools for even longer than the rest of his compatriots.

FINA Announces Nine-Month Suspension for Evgeny Rylov For Rally Appearance - https://t.co/M3HvVNfBKh pic.twitter.com/rKDwHEbt3m

— Swimming World (@SwimmingWorld) April 21, 2022

The Olympic champion of Tokyo 2020 in the 100m and 200m backstroke became one of the most controversial Russian athletes when he was caught on camera at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on March 18, when Putin took a mass bath to celebrate the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea. In addition, the sportsman is also a sergeant in the Moscow Oblast Police General Staff.

His presence at the meeting already brought him, in addition to the sanction, a significant backlash from the swimming community, including the loss of several of his sponsorships, such as the Speedo swimwear brand that dresses him in competitions. The news of his punishment is another blow to Russian sports since Rylov had become Russia's hope for swimming, with his Tokyo medals being the first for the country in the last 25 years.