World Athletics has rejected a recommendation by the International Olympic Committee that a ban on Belarusian athletes and teams competing under the flag of their nation should be lifted.
On Thursday, the IOC’s executive board urged international sports federations and event organisers to allow the country to return to international competition, while keeping restrictions on Russia in place.
Both countries were suspended from Olympic competition after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Belarus a close ally of Russia. A partial ban – allowing athletes to compete as neutrals – was introduced in 2023.
The IOC said, external that unlike Russia, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus “is in good standing and complies with the Olympic Charter”.
It said that since 2023 “athletes with a Belarusian passport have participated as individual neutral athletes (AINs) in numerous international sporting events, as well as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, without any incident on or off the field of play.
It added that it “reaffirms that athletes’ participation in international competition should not be limited by the actions of their governments, including involvement in a war or conflict”.
However, in response, a spokesperson for World Athletics said: “As a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, World Athletics sanctions implemented in March 2022 excluding Belarusian and Russian athletes, officials and supporting personnel from competition remain in place.
“Our council has made a clear decision that when there is tangible movement towards peace negotiations it can begin to review its decisions. We all hope this will be soon, but until that happens the council continues to be united in standing behind the decision it made in March 2022 and revisited in 2023 and 2025.”
The recommendation and response come with the qualification period for both the LA28 Olympic Games and the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games starting this summer.
In a statement in response to the IOC request, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine expressed its “categorical protest and deep disappointment with such a decision of the IOC, which contradicts the fundamental principles of justice, responsibility and Olympic values”.
It added: “This decision was made at a time when Belarus continues to support the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and remains an accomplice in the war. The territory of Belarus is used to launch missiles and strike drones at Ukrainian cities, as well as for military logistics and support for the Russian army.
“There have been no changes in the military and humanitarian context that could serve as a basis for the return of Belarusian representatives to international sports under national symbols.”
Vadym Gutzeit, the president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, added that: “The IOC’s decision is a dangerous precedent for the entire international sports movement.
“Today, the world has received a signal that a country that supports military aggression and is an accomplice in the war against Ukraine can return to the international arena without being held accountable for its actions.
“We are convinced that sport should unite the world around peace, respect and human dignity, and not become a platform for legitimising regimes that support war and terror.”
IOC president Kirsty Coventry suggested in February, external that Russia could compete at the Games in Los Angeles in two years’ time.
But the IOC has decided that doping issues mean it is not ready to lift its ban on the country.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) recently announced that more than 300 sanctions have been handed to Russian athletes following the seizure of Moscow laboratory data in 2019.
“While the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) has held constructive exchanges with the IOC on its suspension, it remains suspended while the IOC legal affairs commission continues to review the matter,” said the IOC.
“The IOC EB (executive board) also noted with concern the recent information that has led to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) looking into the Russian anti-doping system.
“The IOC EB would therefore like to obtain a better understanding of this situation.”
In September, the International Paralympic Committee lifted its ban on athletes from Belarus and Russia competing at the Winter Paralympics earlier this year, while World Aquatics has also announced athletes from the two countries can compete under their nations’ flags.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino suggested in February that world football’s governing body will look at lifting a ban on Russia, a move called “irresponsible” and “infantile” by Ukraine sports minister Matvii Bidnyi.
BBC
