The International Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday that sanctions on the Russian Olympic Committee will be lifted, setting the stage for Russia to possibly get back on the global competition landscape before the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Nearly three years after the initial ban was implemented following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, the IOC roadmap seeks push past a policy that allowed some Russian athletes to attend events as neutrals.
“The decision was taken following a thorough analysis by the IOC’s legal affairs commission, considering that the ROC no longer includes as its members any regional sports organizations in territories falling under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine,” the IOC said in a statement. “In addition, the ROC confirmed that it does not, and will not, conduct any activities in these territories. The IOC executive board will continue to closely monitor the situation relating to any ROC activities in those territories, and reserves the right to take any further measures if deemed necessary.”
The IOC was certain to make a distinction between its action that would directly impact Russian athletes and its Olympic committee support staff. The easing of restrictions also comes with a set of rules and competition timeline that the ensures Russia’s Olympic group no longer operates in regions of Ukraine that were occupied during the invasion.
Russian athletes will also be subject to World Anti-Doping Agency sanctioned drug testing measures, would need to have already been in a testing protocol and the IOC has not yet decided if the nation can display its flag, colors or have its anthem played at the Olympics.
Still, the IOC said it will continue to maintain its support for Ukraine even as the move toward restoring Russia’s status on the Olympic landscape now has a defined starting point.
“The IOC stands in solidarity with the Olympic community of Ukraine, which the Olympic Movement has supported since the beginning of the war, and will continue to do so,” a statement read. “The IOC established a Solidarity Fund for Ukraine so that the athletes have support to overcome the tremendous challenges they continue to face.”
Meanwhile the move toward Russia’s inclusion does not come as an unexpected gesture since the IOC proposed lifting restrictions from Belarus in May.
Belarus aided in the military action as part of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was also stuck with a similar ban that began in October 2023.
Under a neutral athlete compromise, Russia and Belarus were permitted to field individual athletes and no team sports at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February — with no insignias shown or anthems played.
Only 32 approved athletes from Russia and Belarus competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics under neutral status, while a similar restriction was in place at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games and only 13 Russian athletes and seven Belarusians were present.
Both nations could still face opposition from other member federations as World Athletics opted last week to extended its sweeping ban on Russia and Belarus. At the governing body’s most recent council meeting, officials decided to make no modifications to sanctions it issued just weeks after the Ukraine invasion.
“We presented options for the Council to consider on this matter, however, the original decision remains on the sanctions that protect the integrity and fairness of our competitions, with no tangible movement towards peace negotiations having materialized,” World Athletics president Sebastian Coe later said.
