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IOC falls for fake call from Russia

Angela Merkel, Prince Harry, Elton John - and now the International Olympic Committee has also been taken in by a fake Russian call. The topic: the politicization of sport by Moscow ...

The International Olympic Committee has fallen victim to a fake call allegedly originating from Russia. According to the IOC, representatives of the umbrella organization were taken in by a group that had previously deceived several celebrities. During the call, one person claimed to be the president of the African Union and asked the IOC for arguments against the politicization of sport by Moscow, according to the statement on Thursday.

The umbrella organization did not disclose which IOC officials were the target of the call or what exactly was discussed. In recent months, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Prince Harry and pop star Elton John had already fallen for Russian trolls. The tone between the IOC and Russia has recently become more tense. Russian athletes are only allowed to take part in the Olympics in Paris under a neutral flag. They will be barred from the athletes' parade at the opening ceremony.