IOC suspends sanctions against Russia for the time being

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.

Reactions from Ukraine

The decision is based on recommendations from an IOC working group that had been developing a new course for dealing with Russian and Belarusian athletes for months. The committee pointed out that the equal treatment of all athletes is a central principle of the Olympic Movement.

International sports federations and national Olympic committees had increasingly called for a clarification of the status of Russian and Belarusian athletes in recent months. Upcoming international championships will now also once again take place with the participation of both countries.

Possible return of the sanctions

The Ukrainian Sports Association criticized the decision as premature. Athletes from Ukraine had repeatedly pointed out that the war in their country was ongoing and that numerous Ukrainian athletes continued to suffer the consequences of the conflict. The IOC announced that it would continue the dialogue with the affected associations.

The suspension of the sanctions does not automatically mean a permanent lifting. The IOC reserves the right to reinstate the regulations at any time if the political situation changes. For the time being, however, the new policy applies to all Olympic competitions and the ongoing qualification cycles.