The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday issued recommendations for the gradual return to international competitions for Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals, with President Thomas Bach saying their participation works despite the war in Ukraine.
The IOC Executive Board’s recommendations concern the return of those athletes to international competitions but not the 2024 Paris Olympics where a separate decision will be taken at a later date.
This recommendation for events organisers and sports federations to follow only extends to individual athletes, not teams. They include that Russian and Belarusian athletes can only compete as neutrals, with no flag or anthem.
They cannot take part in team events and must have a proven drug testing record, while athletes who support the war or are contracted to their countries’ military or national security agencies are excluded.
The IOC’s sanctions on Russia and its ally Belarus “remain firmly in place“. The sanction was first implemented following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As part of these sanctions, no international sporting events can be organised in either of the nations. Furthermore, their flags, national anthems or any other national symbol must not be used.
The IOC reiterated its condemnation of Russia’s invasion. It has also tripled its solidarity fund for Ukraine’s national Olympic committee to £6.1m.
cc: BBC SPORT, Reuters
