Anton Khudobin disappointed in Russia's Olympic banishment

Anton Khudobin is not happy that his native Russia has been barred from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The International Olympic Committee made the announcement on Tuesday after completing an investigation into Russia’s use of doping.

Russian athletes can receive special dispensation to participate in the Games wearing a neutral uniform, which leaves Khudobin shaking his head.



“I’m not happy for my country,” he said. “I never thought politics would go over sports. It’s tough. To go to (Olympics) with a neutral flag, what does that mean? I don’t know. I wasn’t really happy to hear that news yesterday.

“From my standpoint, I’ve never been to the Olympics, but it is the biggest games in all sports. As an athlete to go there, maybe it’s only a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Not to be able to participate because something (like this) happened then it sucks. I don’t know what the decision will be if our guys will go under the neutral flag. It’s tough. I really don’t know what to say.”

Even though he’s 31 and has never participated in the Olympics, Khudobin still hopes that maybe he’ll get the chance before his career is over. Meanwhile, it’s a black mark on the sports culture in Russia.

“I’m not involved in politics and I don’t like to talk about it, but I heard it was politics over sports – the biggest sports in the world,” Khudobin said.