Hitting Him Below the Belt - Putin Will Be Wounded to Learn His Athletic Accomplishments Are Being Recalled

As much as the man displays his real man virtue, losing his blackbelt could emasculate him permanently.

Over the years, Vlad Putin has been a PR machine for toxic masculinity. We have been inundated with his posturing for cameras in a testosterone fog. We have seen him shirtless, shooting weapons, and flying a fighter jet. He has scored eight goals in a hockey match (with opponents giving 50-percent effort) and we’ve seen him scuba diving a wreck (while “discovering” planted artifacts).

This machismo propaganda is done intentionally as the man exhibits no human emotions. He has the charisma of a dentist’s waiting room and exudes all the charm of a flat tire, so fabricated alpha-male dominance is used in their stead. Now, these athletic underpinnings are under assault, as more reactions to the Ukraine invasion are taking place.

The announcement has been made that Putin will have his award of the Olympic Order stripped away as a result of the aggression. This is the highest honor bestowed on individuals by the International Olympic Committee. It is normally given out to those who were responsible for the staging of a particular Olympiad. Another way of seeing it — a payoff. The IOC is these days regarded as little more than a grifting outfit interested more in the acquisition of wealth than in the distribution of precious metals in the recognition of athletic achievement

As the executives pay lip service to spreading peace and promoting international harmony, just look at the frequency with which they award Olympiads to nations like Russia and China — twice in 15 years — as well as incorporating North Korea in the Pyeongchang Games in 2018. The country of Russia has gone through years of doping scandals, and yet the IOC can only give symbolic punishments, such as declaring the participants do not compete under the flag of Russia but as “Russian Olympic Committee” athletes, because that is completely different, or something.

Now, today, the IOC is saying that it will be eradicating the honorary award it bestowed upon Putin as if that signifies something. It is like telling Dr. First Lady Jill Biden she will no longer be licensed to perform surgeries. As far as this supposed award revocation being the result of a violation of peace, Putin was granted this honor in 2001. He had already invaded Ukraine once since then. Plus, for this outfit to claim they promote peace, how do they explain awarding it to Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, who once jailed his nation’s Olympic athletes when they failed to win any medals at the Rio Summer Games?!

This is hardly Putin’s only athletic setback. The other dire announcement sure to make the totalitarian rethink his dire machinations and ultimately pull his troops out of the besieged nation was just delivered.

On Monday, World Taekwondo stripped Putin of his honorary black belt as a result of the violence in Ukraine.

As anyone can tell you, unearned athletic achievements such as this are of supreme import; just ask Elvis. To have his belt degree rescinded like this is a sweep-the-leg assault on his character, enough to have Vlad rush to a mirror and study his impassive reflection ardently. There is one other area in which Putin may feel offense: his beloved sport of hockey.

The National Hockey League came out with an announcement regarding its position regarding the attack on Ukraine. There are 55 players in the league of Russian heritage, making up five percent of roster space. The NHL takes a cautious position towards them while making some firm decisions regarding their homeland.

Effective immediately, we are suspending our relationships with our business partners in Russia and we are pausing our Russian language social and digital media sites. In addition, we are discontinuing any consideration of Russia as a location for any future competitions involving the NHL.

The International Ice Hockey Federation has also taken a stern stance, announcing it was targeting Russia and Belarus teams for their banishment from all competitions, involving teams of all age groups. This would involve play in six different events, including the Ice Hockey World Championship this May. Also announced, the 2023 World Junior Championship will no longer be staged in Russia.

If this collection of harsh decisions does not provoke proper action from Putin, he may next face reprisal from the International Equestrian Authorities, banning him from bareback horse riding.