IOC lifts bans on Russian and Belarusian athletes

The International Olympic Committee has voted to remove all sanctions that were placed on the Russian Olympic Committee and its athletes after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The suspension of Russian and Belarusian participation is ended, and the requirement for athletes to prove they do not support the war has been dropped. This opens the way for Russian and Belarusian competitors to return to both individual and team events, and the IOC has indicated that permission to compete under their national flags and anthems could be granted in the near future. While the IOC’s decision applies broadly, individual sport federations retain the right to maintain their own eligibility rules, and some have already signaled they will continue to bar Russian participation. The committee reaffirmed its opposition to the invasion and announced a solidarity fund to support Ukrainian athletes affected by the conflict.