Russian athletes will be barred from Wimbledon, preventing world no.2 Daniil Medvedev from competing, report says

• Wimbledon will not to allow Russian players to compete this year, Sportico reported.
• This falls in line with a trend of sports bodies banning Russian and Belarusian athletes due to the war in Ukraine.

Russian tennis players, including No. 2 world-ranked men's star Daniil Medvedev, will be banned from playing at Wimbledon during this season's third Grand Slam in June, according to a Sportico report.

Sources familiar with the matter told Sportico that Wimbledon has decided to ban Russian competitors even as other major tours and competitions keep Russians and Belarusian athletes competing under a neutral flag.

Sportico reported that it is unclear whether the ban would extend to Belarusian athletes. Belarus has shown strong support for Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, and acted as a key staging post for the invasion.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club, which runs Wimbledon, previously told Insider it would announce the decision in mid-May.

Major sports venues and competitions have barred Russian and Belarusian players as a result of the war in Ukraine. These bans include the Olympics, the World Cup, and the Boston Marathon.

UK sports minister Nigel Huddleston revealed earlier this month that within the AELTC, concerns arose of a potential win from Medvedev aiding Vladimir Putin politically during the war. However, Huddleston told the Telegraph players could avoid missing out on competing by providing "assurance in a written declaration" that they did not support Putin's actions in Ukraine.

"Absolutely nobody flying the flag for Russia should be allowed or enabled," Huddleston said in March, per Reuters.

Russian sports stars are, however, unlikely to publicly disavow the actions of Putin, given the dangers faced by Russians who publicly condemn the president.

A ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes would see a large number of the world's top 40 players missing out on the most prestigious of tennis' four Grand Slams. Alongside Medvedev, men's world number eight Andrey Rublev, as well as women's world number four Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, would be barred.

Medvedev, who is currently out injured, said in February that he might skip Wimbledon after fans booed him during the Australian Open.

A representative for the AELTC did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.