Russian rowers banned from talking to media after reaching Games semi-finals

MOSCOW, August 6 Russian rowers Alexei Korovashkov and Zakhar Petrov, who directly qualified for the semi-finals of the canoe doubles competition at the Paris Olympics, were not brought to the mixed zone after the race, despite requests from Russian journalists, Sport Express reports.
It is reported that the Russians were not invited to the mixed zone, but six Russian journalists gathered there and asked the organizers to bring the athletes. The organizers later said that there were «communication problems» and they are ready to bring the Russians on Thursday, the day of the final.

Earlier, journalists from Russia accredited at the Games in Paris were banned from photographing tennis players Mirra Andreeva and Diana Schneider with their Olympic silver medals after the doubles final.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that some Russian journalists were denied the right to cover the Summer Olympic Games in Paris in order to allegedly avoid espionage and cyberattacks. The Olympic Organizing Committee denied accreditation to all Sport journalists and photographers from MIA «Russia Today», citing the decision of the French authorities.
The Olympics are being held from July 26 to August 11. Fifteen Russians have been admitted to the Games: seven tennis players, three canoeists, three cyclists, one trampoline jumper, and one swimmer. By decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), athletes compete in a neutral status, without the Russian flag and anthem, and their awards are not displayed in the medal table.