German gold medalist returns medal in protest of decision to allow Russia to participate in Rio Olympics
A German table-tennis player from the late 1950s – early 1960s, former President of the German Table Tennis Federation and a member of the National Olympic Committee of Germany, Hans Wilhelm Gäb, returned his Olympic medal which he received in 2006. He explained that he was doing so as a result of his disagreement with the decision of the IOC to allow the Russian national team to participate in the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio, reports rp-online.de.
Gäb also reflected his protest in a letter sent to the head of the IOC Thomas Bach. The former sportsman said that he "disapproves of the political football being played by the IOC headed by Thomas Bach, and no longer wants to be a recipient of an award by an organization that betrays the ideals of sport." According to him, the IOC has closed its eyes to the unprecedented crime of the Russian Olympic Committee, which had deceived everyone with the help of state powers and security services.
The Olympic Games in Rio will be held from August 5 - 25.