Return from Belarus: IOC lifts restrictions for athletes

Since Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine began more than four years ago, the IOC has imposed sanctions on both Russia’s and Belarusian athletes. Belarus supports Russia in the war against Ukraine. To the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 and the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo This year only individual athletes from both nations were allowed to take part as neutral athletes.

At the Ice Hockey World Cup, this specifically means: Belarus will return to the A World Cup. This was confirmed by the IIHF Vice President Petr Bryza in a KURIER interview last year. However, a return cannot take place until 2027 at the earliest.

Russia’s NOK further suspended

From this line, the IOC is moving under the presidency Kirsty Coventry now at least for Belarus because, in the opinion of the umbrella organization, the participation of athletes in international competitions “should not be restricted by the actions of their governments, including involvement in a war or conflict.” In addition, the IOC wanted to be in time for the start of the qualifying competitions for the Summer Games 2028 clarify his position in Los Angeles. This means that, among other things, a tennis star is likely to be one of them Aryna Sabalenka play under the Belarusian flag again on the WTA tour.

The IOC justified the ongoing sanctions against Russia by saying that the country’s National Olympic Committee was still suspended for violations of the Olympic Charter. In addition, the IOC “notes with concern the recent information that has led to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) investigating the Russian anti-doping system.” The IOC therefore first wants to get a better picture of the current situation.