Lausanne, July 07, 2026
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended the sanctions against Russia and Belarus with immediate effect, thereby enabling both countries to fully participate in international sporting competitions.
Background of the sanctions
The IOC announced on Tuesday that the restrictions imposed on Russian and Belarusian athletes since Russia's invasion of Ukraine are being suspended. As a result, both nations will once again be able to participate in international competitions without the previously applicable conditions.
In recent years, athletes from Russia and Belarus were only allowed to compete under strict conditions. At the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 and the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo this year, they were only permitted to participate as neutral individual athletes. Teams were excluded from the competitions.
Impact on Olympic qualification
With the suspension of the sanctions, the previous special regulations regarding qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles will also be lifted. Russian and Belarusian athletes can therefore once again qualify for the Games in the regular manner and compete under their national flags.
The IOC had originally imposed the restrictions in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The lifting of the sanctions is the result of a lengthy discussion within the committee on how to deal with athletes from states involved in international conflicts.