IOC Changes Policy on Russian Athletes

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry spoke at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, on June 24. The IOC advised Olympic sports bodies to conclude the three-year program that vetted Russians for neutral status ahead of qualifying events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Since advising two months ago, athletes from Belarus, a military ally of Russia in the Ukraine conflict, are allowed to compete with their full national identity. The IOC emphasized its support for Ukraine’s Olympic community, reiterating its commitment to continue its assistance amid the ongoing war.

The IOC has eased entry requirements for Russian athletes and teams to participate in IOC events. It had provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee. This suspension was initially due to the Russian Olympic body incorporating regional sports councils from occupied regions of Ukraine, but these conditions no longer apply.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, only 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus competed as approved neutrals, winning five medals. Comparatively, the Russian team had over 300 athletes at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and secured 71 medals. The IOC has yet to decide on allowing Russian athletes and teams to compete under their flag and anthem, stating that this decision will be made at an appropriate time.

The forthcoming Olympic event is the 2026 Youth Summer Games in Dakar, Senegal, starting on October 31. To address global sporting community concerns over the return of Russian athletes, the IOC mandates multiple doping tests and participation in a recognized testing program.

The IOC continues to refrain from organizing events in Russia or inviting Russian government or state officials to its events. This stance reinforces the global sporting community’s lack of confidence in Russian athletes’ return to international competitions.