Fooled by Russian pranksters, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has advocated for Africa to skip the Friendship Games in Russia.
Bach spoke to an "African politician" about the "risks" for participants due to Moscow's "untrustworthy" anti-doping system that could also indirectly "influence" the African Games. Bach said the EU could issue a joint statement with the "politician" on the matter.
Russian Deputy PM Dmitry Chernyshenko previously stated that a large number of countries are interested in and will participate in the International Friendship Games, despite the IOC's opposition to the competition.