Speedo has reportedly ditched its sponsorship deal with two-time Russian Olympic champion swimmer Evgeny Rylov after he appeared on stage with other high-profile athletes at a weekend pro-war rally hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sponsorship fees that Rylov would have been paid will be donated to help Ukrainian refugees instead, representatives for the swimwear maker said in a statement to CNN.
“We condemn the war in Ukraine in the strongest possible way and stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, our athletes and our teammates who have been impacted by the conflict,” Speedo said in the statement. “As part of this decision, any outstanding sponsorship fees will be donated to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.”