The latest
The International Olympic Committee has eased restrictions on Russian athletes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, after provisionally lifting its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee.
The IOC said the suspension imposed in 2023 was no longer applicable after a legal review found that the Russian Olympic Committee no longer included sports bodies from occupied Ukrainian territories. Russian athletes can now return to qualifying events and some team competitions, provided they meet anti-doping requirements.
The decision does not mean Russia is fully restored at the Olympics. The IOC has not decided whether Russia can compete under its flag, colours or anthem, and it will still not host IOC events in Russia or invite Russian government officials.
Details
- IOC decision: The IOC said the reasons for suspending the Russian Olympic Committee no longer applied after changes to its membership.
- Path to LA 2028: Russian athletes can now take part in qualifying events and some team competitions ahead of the Los Angeles Games.
- Limits remain: Russia’s flag, colours and anthem are still banned for now, pending a separate IOC decision.
- Anti-doping checks: Russian athletes must still meet anti-doping requirements before they can compete, with trust concerns remaining after Russia’s past doping scandals.
- Ukraine response: Ukraine’s Olympic Committee called the decision premature and unjustified, saying Russia should not be brought back while its invasion continues.
- IOC position: IOC president Kirsty Coventry said athletes should not pay the price for their government’s actions, while the organisation said it still condemns Russia’s war in Ukraine.
- Russian reaction: Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev welcomed the decision, calling it a signal that international sport should remain free from politics.
- Federation decisions: Individual sports bodies can still set their own rules. World Athletics has kept its restrictions, while FIFA and UEFA said there are no immediate plans to reinstate Russian teams.
- Previous Games: Some Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as neutrals at the Paris 2024 Olympics and the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.
What to watch
The next major decision is whether Russia can compete under its flag, colours and anthem at LA 2028. International federations, including FIFA, UEFA and World Athletics, will face pressure over whether to follow the IOC’s updated position. Ukraine and its allies are likely to keep opposing any full Russian return while the war continues.
