The Ukrainian weightlifter refused the podium and photos with the Russian competitor, the president of the European Federation, Astrit Hasani, "explodes" at her

Sports

Express newspaper

28/04/2026 12:10

The President of the European Weightlifting Federation, Astrit Hasani, has reprimanded Ukrainian athlete, Iryna Dombrovska, who refused to take a photo with the Russian athlete while receiving medals on the podium.

Dombrovska won three bronze medals at the European Weightlifting Championships, held in Georgia, but then refused to take a photo with the athlete from Russia, who was also a medalist, causing an outburst from Hasan, writes "Gazeta Express".

⚡️ Ukrainian athlete scolded by EWF president for refusing photo with Russian

European Weightlifting Federation President Astrit Hasani was filmed shouting at athlete Iryna Dombrovska and her coaching staff after she declined to participate in a podium photograph with a Russian... pic.twitter.com/JikZFSNm7j

— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) April 27, 2026

"This is unacceptable, because we are here in sport. Sport is above politics in our organization. Thank you very much," the head of European weightlifting told the Ukrainian competitor, who however did not listen to him and refused the photo with the Russian.

All this is due to the fact that these two countries have been at war for years, with Russia's aim to invade Ukraine. /Express newspaper