Stanislav Pozdnyakov, re-elected as ROC President, has spoken of an "alternative scenario" if Russian athletes cannot qualify for Paris 2024 ©Getty Images

Stanislav Pozdnyakov, unanimously re-elected without opposition today as President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), has spoken of an "alternative scenario" if the country’s athletes are unable to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The 49-year-old has been head of the ROC since 2018.

It echoes the sentiment of other Russian officials this week, who say they are planning international events outside the jurisdiction of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Federations.

"The best-case scenario is that our athletes will take part in the 2024 Olympics, having cleared the qualifying stage," Pozdnyakov told delegates in Moscow, according to Russian state news agency TASS. 

"Otherwise, we will resort to an alternative scenario.

"We will be implementing an Olympic sports programme aimed at creating an athletic base and the training of the youth.

"The main goal will be to prepare a new generation of athletes, who can enter the top three at the [2028] Olympics after the [2024] Games in Paris.”

Stanislav Pozdnyakov, re-elected as ROC President, has spoken of an
Stanislav Pozdnyakov, re-elected as ROC President, has spoken of an "alternative scenario" if Russian athletes cannot qualify for Paris 2024 ©Getty Images

On February 28, the IOC issued recommendations to International Federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments, citing Moscow's "special military operation in Ukraine as the reason.

Following the IOC's recommendations on February 28, athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus were banned by most International Federations.

In mid-October, IOC President Thomas Bach continued to recommend keeping athletes from Russia and Belarus suspended, and did so again the following month.

However, the organisation has been open to these athletes potentially returning for Paris 2024, with qualification events through the Olympic Council of Asia.

A four-time Olympic fencing champion in the sabre event, and 10-time world champion, he was head of the European Fencing Confederation from 2016 to 2022.