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IOC eases restrictions on Russian athletes in international sport
08th July, 2026 06:15 PM
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has temporarily removed the suspension imposed on the Russian Olympic Committee, ending a restriction that had been in place since October 2023.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry has said the decision reflects the organisation’s belief that competitors should not be punished because of the actions of their governments.
“We don’t want to hold athletes accountable for the actions of their governments,” she said.
Hosting events
Despite easing the suspension, Coventry stressed that the IOC’s position on hosting events in Russia remains unchanged. International competitions will not be staged in the country, while discussions regarding the future use of the Russian flag and national anthem will continue.
The move follows a series of IOC decisions since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. In February 2022, the IOC Executive Board urged International Federations (IFs) to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from international events. However, in March 2023, the committee allowed competitors from both nations to return under Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status, enabling them to compete at events such as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics without displaying national flags, anthems or other state symbols.
Earlier this year, on May 7, 2026, the IOC also withdrew its recommendation for restrictions on Belarusian athletes.
Explaining the latest decision, Coventry said:
“For now, we thought that it was really important for athletes to have the possibility of returning to competition,”
The IOC also reiterated its commitment to the “Fit for the Future” initiative, which promotes athletes’ right to participate in sport without political influence or government interference. The policy was first approved by the Executive Board in September 2025 before being reaffirmed during the Olympic Summit in December of the same year.
Coventry added:
“We are very confident in the fair and safe environment in sport that we want to be able to provide.”
She noted that additional safeguards have been introduced to ensure Russian athletes satisfy all required standards before rejoining international competition.
“That’s where the additional measures that we have put into place in and around, ensuring that athletes from Russia have been tested adequately before they come back into any sports programs.”
According to the IOC, Russian athletes seeking to compete internationally must fully comply with all anti-doping regulations established by both the IOC and the respective International Federations.
Briefing on the decision
IOC Sports Director Pierre Ducrey has also said the organisation had already briefed International Federations on the decision.
“I would say the proposals we put forward to the EB were not surprised to the IFs,” he said.
Coventry also emphasized that each International Federation will continue to make its own decisions regarding athlete participation.
“The International Federations remain autonomous, and they are allowed to make their own decisions,”
