Olga Graf, a speed skater approved to compete in the Olympics by the IOC, is the first Russian athlete to refuse to go to the PyeongChang Games, according to Russian media.
Graf said she declined the IOC’s invitation because the IOC did not invite enough Russian female skaters to field a team pursuit squad, in a statement attributed to Graf.
R-Sport also quoted the Russia speed skating federation president confirming Graf’s stance.
Graf was upset that the IOC chose not to invite over half of the national speed skating team, all of whom Graf believes are clean athletes
The team pursuit would have been Graf’s only reasonable shot at a medal in PyeongChang.