In some countries people have the right to try to make change. They have a voice and if they don't, then they can try to have one.
I am very aware that change often comes from the people. However, I also believe that if a person is dedicated to sports or poker, they are likely to be oblivious to all of that. When you become a professional in a certain discipline, you generally dedicate your life to it and don't have time for anything else. So, excluding them still seems wrong to me, especially for those who are dedicated to that.
In my case, the former president said a lot of nonsense that made us look bad worldwide. He always stood out for putting his foot in his mouth. Now, am I supposed to take responsibility for that?
Now, if I were a Russian who is against what is happening, I don't know if I would risk my life to raise my voice when I'm not sure how much I can actually change.
And even if I am publicly against the government, I would probably still be banned from competition.
But yes, it is a very delicate issue.