The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes return to international sporting events as neutrals after being banned from competition in the wake of last year’s Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The IOC said on Tuesday that its advice to Olympic sport’s governing bodies does not cover the participation of athletes and their support staff in the Paris 2024 Olympics or the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
“The IOC will make this decision at the right time as it sees fit,” said President Thomas Bach, adding “we’re not buying it,” when asked if the committee actually bought time to end the war.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus were barred from participating in international sporting events following the large-scale invasion of Ukraine by neighboring Russia in February 2022. Belarus was also used as a major staging area for the invasion of Russia.
However, an Olympic summit on December 9 opened the door for these athletes to return to events despite the ongoing war.
‘Condemnation of the Russian invasion’
Ukraine has threatened a Parisian boycott and sports politicians from more than 30 countries have opposed the return of the athletes from the two countries.
On Tuesday, Bach advised international federations and organizers of international sporting events that “athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport should compete only as individual neutral athletes”.
These athletes must wear uniforms that are all white or a single color, and must not have a team logo. Athletes should be barred from displaying their national flag on social media or making statements “that could be prejudicial to the interests of the competition, the integrity or neutrality of the participant,” the IOC document said.
Athletes from the two countries that have actively supported the war in Ukraine, or are “contracted by the military or national security services,” should not be allowed to compete as neutral individuals, Bach said.
Russia’s defense ministry has said more than 20 of the country’s medalists at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics held military ranks. Of the 71 medals won in Japan, 45 were from athletes affiliated with the Central Sports Club of the Army.
Bach reiterated the IOC’s “condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is a flagrant violation of the Olympic Truce in force at the time, and of the Olympic Charter”.
In its recommendations, the IOC also said that “teams of athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports cannot be considered”, and clarified that the sanctions against “those responsible for the war, the Russian and Belarusian states and governments” should remain in force. .
‘Unacceptable’
Russia and Belarus remain unable to host international sporting events on their territories, and no flag, anthem or other identification of these countries may be displayed at any sporting event or gathering.
In addition, “No Russian and Belarusian government or state official may be invited to or accredited to any international sporting event,” the IOC said.
The head of the Russian Olympic Committee said the criteria recommended by the IOC were “unacceptable”.
“This is discrimination based on nationality,” said Stanislav Pozdnyakov, quoted by Russian news agencies.
Poland denounced the IOC’s recommendation, calling it a “day of shame”.
“What positive things Russia has done for their athletes to compete now!! Na Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel!! After the daily bombing of civilian sites!! It’s a disgraceful day for the IOC!!” Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk said on Twitter.
The comments came days after World Athletics voted to lift an eight-year doping suspension for Russia.
The Russian athletics federation was banned in 2015 after the discovery of massive state-sponsored doping and cover-ups. Because the problem was not meaningfully addressed, the suspension remained in effect for eight years.