At the Pan-Arab Games in Algeria, Russian athletes were passed off as members of the Syrian national team. Their names and dates of birth were changed

Russian athletes were listed as members of the Syrian national team at the Pan Arab Games, which are held in Algiers on July 5-15. Sports journalist Sergei Lisin drew attention to the team's application.

According to him, the names of most Russian athletes declared as athletes from Syria have been changed, and two have their dates of birth. For example, badminton player Darya Dzhedzhula's year of birth was changed from 1995 to 1999, and cyclist Darya Malkova's year of birth was changed from 2000 to 2001.

Malkova is listed in the application as Darie Malko, her sister, also a cyclist Tatiana, as Tatia Malko. Athlete Karina Poludkina (Karina Polud), swimmer Anastasia Sorokina (Enas Sorkine) and judoka Milana Mrad are also announced under the changed names.

At the same time, Mugu and gymnast Alexandra Maksimova have links to the Syrian national team on the websites of international federations, while for the rest of the athletes they remain Russian.

“Since it is inconceivable that someone has agreed in advance with the international federations of badminton, water sports, cycling and athletics that Russian athletes can compete for Syria without an official change of nationality, and even with changed dates of birth, we are in for a hell of a scandal” Lisin noted.

Daria Malkova told the Base that she was in Syria at the training camp. According to the athlete, she was offered to train in Damascus with members of the Syrian cycling team. She claims that she does not know who entered her into the competition.

The press service of the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation reported that Mugu and Maksimova officially changed their sports citizenship, and the information about the rest of the athletes was called false.

Mugu and Maksimova officially represent the Syrian national team; they are not included in the approved lists of candidates for the sports teams of the Russian Federation for 2023. For the rest of the athletes, the information indicated on the tournament website does not correspond to reality. The athletes listed on the website of the organizers of the tournament do not take part in the Pan Arab Games and did not declare a change of sports citizenship.

In turn, the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, accused Russian athletes of trying to circumvent sanctions in this way.