IOC backs lifting ban on Belarusian athletes in international sports
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The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) withdrew on May 7 its recommendation for sanctions against Belarusian athletes introduced after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The decision could lead to Belarus being fully reinstated in international sports, including allowing athletes to compete under the national flag.
The move comes as Russian and Belarusian athletes are gradually making their return to international sports, following the initial ban imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Over time, the policy was softened, allowing these athletes to compete under "neutral" status, and now, fully reinstating their national representation.
"The IOC reaffirms that athletes' participation in international competition should not be limited by the actions of their governments, including involvement in a war or conflict," the statement read.
Restrictions on Russian athletes will remain in place. The IOC said the situation involving the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) "is different" from that of Belarus.
"Whilst the ROC has held constructive exchanges with the IOC on its suspension, it remains suspended while the IOC Legal Affairs Commission continues to review the matter," the statemant said.
While Belarus, an ally of Russia, has not directly participated in the war, it has allowed the Kremlin to use its territory as a staging ground for its operations against Ukraine.
Russia's all-out war has taken a heavy toll on Ukraine with hundreds of Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed and hundreds of sports facilities destroyed by Russian missile and drone attacks.
Despite this, the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Italy saw the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags. In April, the World Aquatics Bureau also lifted sanctions on Moscow and Minsk in water sports, making swimming the first major sport to ease restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
