Lithuanian athlete suspended from Functional Fitness World Championships because of T-shirt

This is reported by Suspilne Sport.

The athlete noted that her team came to the competition knowing about the participation of Russian athletes, who would compete under a neutral flag.

‘We were told that they would compete as ‘neutral’. We have already experienced what these ‘neutral’ Russian athletes mean,’ Dudaitė said, adding that she was outraged by the special treatment of the organizers towards the “neutrals”.

The athlete decided to express her stance by wearing a T-shirt with the words ‘Make Russia small again’, which was worn by the President of Ukraine.

‘When we arrived in Hungary, I saw the organizers welcoming the Russians and rejoicing in their participation. I believe that you cannot welcome an aggressor country,’ she stressed.

According to Dudaitė, the organizers first reprimanded her because of the inscription on her T-shirt and ordered her to change it. When the athlete refused, she was disqualified.

‘The organizers didn't find it unacceptable, but my T-shirt seemed to be a provocation. After the first match, the organizer came and asked me to change. If I didn't, I was told that either I or the entire Lithuanian national team would be removed. I wasn't afraid or sorry to be excluded, but I didn't want all Lithuanian athletes to be responsible for my actions, so I said that if they didn't like my clothes, they should officially exclude me,’ the athlete explained.

After Kornelija Dudaitė's disqualification, the entire Lithuanian team decided to refuse to participate in the championship, protesting against the Russians' admission to the competition.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys has defended Lithuanian athlete Kornelija Dūdaitė, saying that no one should ever be punished for speaking out against terror and aggression.

• During the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, the organizers showed a map of Ukraine without Crimea annexed by Russia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on FIFA to apologize.