Politics in sports
05.05.2023
Rio 2016 Olympic champion receives five-year ban for inciting violence against President
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A five-year suspension for Brazil’s Olympic volleyball gold medallist Wallace Leandro de Souza for using social media to incite violence against State President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been upheld by the Brazilian Olympic Committee's Ethics Committee.
The player, known in Brazil simply as Wallace, had originally been suspended for a period of 90 days but had appealed to the Volleyball Court of Justice and was permitted to play in the Brazilian Superleague Final.
He helped his club Sada Cruzeiro win by three sets to zero against Minas Gerais on Sunday (April 30).
A hearing of the COB Ethics Committee ruled that the original punishment had been insufficient and extended the suspension to five years.
"Wallace acted freely when he was suspended from his activities by virtue of the previously practiced unethical act, which consisted of inciting violence, through social networks, insinuating to shoot against the President of the Republic," the judgement said.
In January, Wallace had posted a picture of himself with a 12 millimetre handgun and later initiated an online question and answer session for his 350,000 subscribers.
One follower asked: 'Would you shoot Lula in the face with that?" Wallace reposted the question and launched an online poll with the comment: "Would you shoot Lula in the face with that?"
In total, 54 per cent of his followers voted yes.
The player, known in Brazil simply as Wallace, had originally been suspended for a period of 90 days but had appealed to the Volleyball Court of Justice and was permitted to play in the Brazilian Superleague Final.
He helped his club Sada Cruzeiro win by three sets to zero against Minas Gerais on Sunday (April 30).
A hearing of the COB Ethics Committee ruled that the original punishment had been insufficient and extended the suspension to five years.
"Wallace acted freely when he was suspended from his activities by virtue of the previously practiced unethical act, which consisted of inciting violence, through social networks, insinuating to shoot against the President of the Republic," the judgement said.
In January, Wallace had posted a picture of himself with a 12 millimetre handgun and later initiated an online question and answer session for his 350,000 subscribers.
One follower asked: 'Would you shoot Lula in the face with that?" Wallace reposted the question and launched an online poll with the comment: "Would you shoot Lula in the face with that?"
In total, 54 per cent of his followers voted yes.
Post by Wallace that led to him receiving a five-year ban ©Wallace's social media
Wallace apologised and removed the post shortly afterwards, but the Brazilian Government prosecutors have called for legal action against him.
Brazil Volleyball have also had funds withdrawn for six months for permitting Wallace to play in the volleyball final. It has also been reported in Brazil that Volleyball Federation boss Radamés Lattari has been suspended.
President Lula had been re-elected as President last October defeating the incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro from the far right party Alliance for Brazil.
Wallace who has taken part in three Olympics, is known to be a supporter of Bolsonaro. He had won silver at London 2012 before claiming gold at Rio 2016 and just missing out on a medal in Tokyo, but he will be 41 by the time his suspension is served.
Brazil Volleyball have also had funds withdrawn for six months for permitting Wallace to play in the volleyball final. It has also been reported in Brazil that Volleyball Federation boss Radamés Lattari has been suspended.
President Lula had been re-elected as President last October defeating the incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro from the far right party Alliance for Brazil.
Wallace who has taken part in three Olympics, is known to be a supporter of Bolsonaro. He had won silver at London 2012 before claiming gold at Rio 2016 and just missing out on a medal in Tokyo, but he will be 41 by the time his suspension is served.
Photo: Getty Images
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