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≡ RUSSIAN RETURN ≡
The headline was this:
“IOC provisionally lifts suspension of Russian Olympic Committee – Recommendations to IFs with regard to Russian athletes’ participation no longer applicable”
The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board, meeting online on Tuesday, followed up on the newly-passed Olympic Charter amendments to underscore the importance of the neutrality of sport, and agreed:
● “The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) that had been in effect since 12 October 2023.”
● “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 organisations in territories falling under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine.”
● “In addition, the ROC confirmed that it does not, and will not, conduct any activities in these territories. The IOC EB 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 issued recommendations asking International Federations not to have Russian or Belarusian athletes or officials in international sport quickly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Now, most of those restrictions are over.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) explained in a follow-up news conference:
“We made it clear that we wanted to ensure all athletes have the possibility to compete at the Olympic Games and not be held responsible for their government’s actions, and I believe that is what this decision speaks to.
“It allows for Russian athletes to take part in sport competitions, but we’ve also been very clear that we do not condone any violence and war around the world, and we will continue with that stance.
“We also made it very clear that we would not be changing any of the recommendations when it pertains to state officials of Russia and we would not be taking a decision at this point to look at any potential events in Russia, so none of that has changed. …
“We will review the protocols around anthem and flag in the future.”
The Russian Olympic Committee was informed of the decision immediately following the Executive Board meeting. The IOC’s head of National Olympic Committee relations, James Macleod (GBR) also noted, “We have also had a conversation with the Ukrainian Olympic Committee and a number of other NOCs that have voiced their concerns around this matter.”
Macleod explained that the IOC Legal Affairs Commission “was set up in 2025 to look at the specific reasons for the suspension and whether those had been corrected. And they have been working for a whole year, gathering evidence, whether it has been submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee, or indeed, the Ukrainian Olympic Committee, to be able to have a very balanced view on that, and to come to a recommendation to the Executive Board, which they did today.”
As for Los Angeles 2028, the IOC’s statement indicated that the new Olympic Charter provisions will apply:
“In accordance with the Olympic Charter, and as applicable to all NOCs in general when selecting the athletes participating in the Olympic Games, the ROC must ensure that Russian athletes’ ‘selection [for the Olympic Games] shall be based not only on their sports performance, but also on their ability to serve as role models who respect, uphold and promote a peaceful society through sport as set forth in the Olympic Charter.’ (Bye-law 2.1 to Rules 27 and 28).”
As for doping, the statement further explained that any returning Russian athletes “must be part of a national (RUSADA/ROC) anti-doping programme (including risk assessment, test distribution plan and results management) that is delegated to the International Testing Agency (ITA).”
Seven International Federations have fully readmitted Russian athletes, but others have either allowed only “neutral” athletes or no Russian athletes at all.
Observed: This outcome was telegraphed by the changes to the Olympic Charter at the 146th IOC Session that was just completed. The IOC and the International Federations will now be faced with a series of problems created by this decision, including – at the least – inevitable protocol clashes when Russian and Belarusian athletes are face-to-face with Ukrainian and other Eastern European athletes whose own countries may be subject to Russian aggression.
The IOC’s next decision is on the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar (SEN) in November, where the Ukrainian Olympic Committee has asked for permission for its athletes not to attend ceremonies where the Russian flag and/or anthem are presented. There was no word on this today.
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