IOC Lifts Russian Olympic Suspension but Ukraine Calls Move Premature

The International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee on Tuesday. The suspension had been imposed in October 2023 after the Russian body incorporated regional sports organizations from occupied areas of eastern Ukraine.

The decision opens the possibility that Russian athletes could compete under their national flag and anthem at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Qualification for those Games had already started. The IOC advised sports bodies to end a three-year program that required Russian athletes to be vetted before competing as neutrals. IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the organization does not want to hold athletes accountable for the actions of their governments.

The IOC stated it will decide at a later time whether Russian athletes may display national colors, flag or anthem at the 2028 Games. The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine said it strongly disagrees with the decision, calling it premature, unjustified and adopted without due regard to the objective circumstances of the conflict.

Ukraine's sports minister Matvii Bidnyi stated that nothing has changed in the war and the situation has become even worse.

GB News reported that Russian athletes seeking to compete must participate in a national anti-doping program overseen by the International Testing Agency. The IOC said it will not stage any events on Russian soil and will not invite Russian government or state officials to the Games.

The IOC maintains the right to re-impose measures if the Russian Olympic Committee conducts activities in Ukrainian-controlled territories.

World Athletics is maintaining a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes in its international competitions. FIFA and UEFA have continued to exclude Russia from competitions such as the World Cup and Champions League. World Aquatics lifted its restrictions on Russian athletes in April.