Russian dependence on imported athletic apparel and sports nutrition remains close to 90 percent, Oleg Matsisin, the Russian Sports Minister, said during a meeting with Russian President Putin. Russian analogs of athletic apparel good enough for high-level performances are available in limited quantities. There is only a limited range of complex high-tech products in the Russian industry, he admitted. Russia needs to establish innovative scientific and technological centers to deal with this issue, Matsisin said, not elaborating.
In the sports nutrition segment, the picture is similar, with only around 10 percent of the demand for Russian athletes being met by Russian suppliers. To develop sports infrastructure in Russia, the country needs to establish full-cycle production of high-quality, specialized sports nutrition, including all its key components, he added.
In May 2023, the Russian Sports Minister admitted that the country wouldn’t be able to replace imported apparel fast enough. Speaking at the Russian Parliament, he said that the officials need to be realistic about the potential of the Russian sporting goods industry in this field and take steps in order not to compromise the performance of the athletes from the national teams.
