Turkish World Karate Champion Serkan Yağcı was denied entry into Russia although he carried all necessary documents. Yağcı flew from Dubai to Russia on Saturday and couldn't enter Russia from the Sheremetyevo Airport. He was then sent back to Turkey. Emphasizing that he was invited for a seminar, Yağcı said, "I was going to give a seminar at the invitation of a club sponsored by the Russia Federation. I normally live in Dubai. When I arrived at the passport check point the police officers told me to wait. They made me wait three or four hours. When I asked for an explanation, they said it was due to the diplomatic problem between Turkey and Russia, but they themselves wanted to help. I showed my invitation, and the Russian club and federation officials made an effort to convince the officers. But ultimately they sent me back to Istanbul."

"There were 60 or 70 Russian athletes waiting for me. Later the club and federation officials called me and apologized. I said I understood."

Meanwhile, Russian athletes will participate in tournaments organised in Turkey, with maximum security ensured, RIA news agency cited sports minister Vitaly Mutko as saying on Sunday. Russia introduced a raft of punitive economic sanctions against Turkey on Saturday after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane earlier in the week. Mutko said that the measures that Russia is taking against Turkey will not impact the calendar of international sports federations.