The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken a significant step toward allowing Russia to fully participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, including the use of its national flag and anthem.
On Tuesday, the IOC provisionally lifted a suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and advised Olympic sports bodies to cease a three-year program that required Russian athletes to seek vetting to compete as neutral athletes. The committee cited the approaching qualification events for the L.A. Games and the necessity of providing equal access to competitions for all athletes. This development follows an earlier IOC recommendation that athletes from Belarus, an ally of Russia, be allowed to compete with their full national identity.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry stated that the organization does not wish to hold athletes accountable for the actions of their governments. Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer for Zimbabwe, defended the decision as fair, drawing a parallel to her own potential exclusion had she faced repercussions for her country's actions.
However, the move has drawn criticism. Ukraine's sports minister, Matvii Bidnyi, questioned the IOC's decision, arguing that the situation in the war has not improved, but worsened. He expressed confusion over the IOC's rule alteration, particularly as Ukraine was observing a day of mourning following a recent Russian missile and drone attack that killed at least 22 people.
Lingering Restrictions
The IOC's guidance to individual sports federations is not binding. While Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov characterized the decision as a "green light" for federations to restore athletes' rights, some sports are maintaining their bans. World Athletics confirmed it is continuing its prohibition on Russian and Belarusian athletes, referencing its previous decision. FIFA and UEFA have also continued to exclude Russian teams from competitions like the World Cup and Champions League, largely to avoid potential boycotts from other national teams.
Individual athletes may also face visa challenges when seeking to enter countries that host sporting events.
Russia's Path Back
In contrast, swimming's governing body, World Aquatics, lifted its restrictions on Russian athletes in April. The ROC's suspension in 2023 stemmed from its incorporation of regional sports councils from occupied regions of eastern Ukraine. The IOC stated that the ROC has confirmed it does not engage in activities in these territories, a claim Ukrainian minister Bidnyi dismissed as "fake and empty words."
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, only 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus competed under approved neutral status. This contrasts with the more than 300 athletes Russia sent to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where they won 71 medals, including 20 titles.
Athlete Scrutiny Continues
Russian athletes seeking neutral status in the past were required to demonstrate no ties to state military or security agencies and to have not publicly supported the war in Ukraine. The IOC confirmed that it will continue to monitor Russian athletes' social media activity, citing the Olympic Charter's requirement for athletes to be "role models."
The Australian Olympic Committee, in a statement, called for stringent anti-doping controls for returning Russian athletes, citing Russia's past anti-doping violations and emphasizing the need for a "level playing field."
The IOC has not yet approved the return of the Russian flag and anthem, stating that decision will be made at an "appropriate time." The committee also reiterated its policy of not organizing IOC events in Russia and not inviting Russian government or state officials to its events. Athletes must also provide multiple doping controls and be part of a recognized testing program to ensure confidence in their return to international competition.