Australia will not interfere with the decision of the sensational bronze Olympic medallist Shane Perkins (Shane Perkins) “to defect” to Russia in order to save his dream to compete at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020. The Association of Cycling Australia in preparation for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro exclude the athlete from the core team. Today the issue of granting Russian citizenship to Perkins. This became possible after the Cycling Federation of Russia “opened its doors” to foreign athletes.
Perkins has no plans to abandon Australian passport and intends to have dual citizenship. In accordance with the agreement, it will not require residence in the territory of the Russian Federation.
“Cycling Federation of Russia gave me the opportunity to qualify for the Games in 2020 in Tokyo, said the Australian. — This is important to me because my father played at the Olympic games in 1964 in Tokyo. I have notified its decision to the leadership of the Association of Cycling Australia that is not against.”
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Shane Perkins — 13-time Australian champion in different age categories (on account of his four national record), two-time world champion in the sprint disciplines (two world Championships gold in 2011 and 2012, silver in 2010 and bronze in 2006), bronze medalist of the Olympic games in London in the sprint on the track.
