Lausanne: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee that had been in effect since October 2023, Xinhua reported. "We don't want to hold athletes accountable for the actions of their governments," said IOC President Kirsty Coventry, highlighting the organization's stance on separating athletes from political actions.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Coventry stated that the IOC would continue to refrain from organizing international sporting events in Russia and would assess protocols related to the anthem and flag in future events. The IOC Executive Board (EB) had earlier recommended on February 28, 2022, that international federations ban Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from competitions. However, on March 28, 2023, the IOC decided that athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports could compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) in international events, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, without flags, anthems, or other national symbols.
The decision to no longer recommend restrictions on Belarusian athletes was announced by the IOC EB on May 7, 2026. "For now, we thought that it was really important for athletes to have the possibility of returning to competition," Coventry added, emphasizing the importance of providing athletes with opportunities to compete.
The IOC remains committed to its "Fit for the Future" initiative, which underscores the essential right of athletes to participate in sports without political interference or government pressure. This principle was endorsed by the EB in September 2025 and reaffirmed at the Olympic Summit in December 2025. Coventry expressed confidence in maintaining a fair and safe environment in sports, ensuring that Russian athletes are adequately tested before re-entering sports programs.
All Russian athletes returning to international competition will need to comply with relevant anti-doping requirements, as stipulated by the anti-doping rules of the IOC and international federations. IOC Sports Director Pierre Ducrey mentioned that the IOC had communicated with all international federations to explain the decision, noting that the proposals presented to the EB were not unexpected for the federations. Coventry reiterated that international federations remain autonomous and can make independent decisions.