INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Olympic Committee and the fencing association it governs have asked Congress to grant American citizenship to three Russian fencers who face
citizenship bid was endorsed so that they could compete at the Paris games and other future international competitions, according to USA
criminal charges.Citing anonymous law enforcement sources, Russian state media laterreported that the pair was accused of abandoning a
military unit without authorization.Before leaving Russia, Violetta Bida waslisted as a soldier with the Defense Ministry-affiliated sports
services, according to the news website RBC.Jack Wiener, an attorney representing all three fencers, told USA Today his clients have signed
citizenship, the Senate and House of Representatives would have to pass a bill that President Joe Biden would then need to sign.Sergei Bida
1 in the world for men's epee in 2019 and 2020
He won silver in the men's team epee competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the individual epee competition at the 2019 World
Violetta Bida told USA Today she was six months pregnant and would have to miss out on the Paris Olympics.Lokhanov is a two-time junior
world champion who placed seventh in the men's team saber competition and 24th in individual saber at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
