The International Olympic Committee has provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, removing a key barrier to Russian athletes returning to international competition. While eligibility decisions will remain with individual sporting federations, the move marks a significant shift in the IOC's position nearly three years after the suspension was imposed.
INR Report: Based on reporting by RT HERE.
Suspension provisionally lifted
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), clearing the way for Russian athletes to return to international competition under the eligibility rules established by individual international sporting federations.
The suspension had remained in place since 2023 after the IOC objected to the ROC incorporating sports organisations from four former Ukrainian regions that later voted to join Russia.
According to the IOC, the suspension has now been lifted after determining the ROC no longer includes those regional organisations within its membership and has confirmed it will not conduct activities in territories recognised by the IOC as falling under the jurisdiction of Ukraine's National Olympic Committee.
The IOC said it will continue monitoring the situation.
Athlete participation rules change
Alongside lifting the suspension, the IOC announced that its previous recommendations regarding the participation of Russian athletes in international competitions are no longer applicable.
Athletes wishing to compete internationally will still be required to comply with all anti-doping regulations, while eligibility decisions will continue to rest with each international sporting federation.
The IOC also confirmed it will not organise its own events in Russia or invite Russian government officials to IOC events. Decisions regarding the Russian flag, national anthem and other state symbols at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will be considered at a later date.
Moscow welcomes the decision
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova welcomed the announcement, writing on Telegram:
"Common sense has prevailed! Global sport will go on. It will go on with Russia!"
Moscow has consistently argued that the IOC's 2023 suspension was politically motivated and contrary to the principles of the Olympic Movement.
Russian officials have also maintained that athletes should be judged on sporting merit rather than geopolitical disputes, accusing Western governments of influencing international sporting organisations to exclude Russian competitors.
Does This Affect New Zealand?
New Zealand athletes have competed alongside Russian athletes in numerous international events throughout the suspension period under varying eligibility rules set by different sporting federations. The IOC's decision may lead to greater consistency across international competitions as individual federations reassess their participation policies.
More broadly, the decision highlights the continuing intersection between international sport and geopolitics. Since 2022, sporting organisations have faced difficult questions over whether international competition should remain politically neutral or whether geopolitical events should influence athlete participation. As qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics gathers pace, sporting bodies—including those involving New Zealand athletes will continue balancing fairness in competition with the broader international environment.
Source
Original Article: RT