Russia has moved a step closer to returning to the Olympic Games under its own name after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee.
The decision opens the door for Russian athletes to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if they meet the relevant anti-doping requirements. However, the IOC has not yet decided whether Russia will be allowed to use its flag, national colours and anthem, making the move one of the most debated decisions in international sport.
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in 2023 following Russia’s war in Ukraine. It has now said the suspension is “no longer applicable” and that athletes from Russia can compete again only if they “meet relevant anti-doping requirements”. At the same time, the IOC has also confirmed that it will continue to “not organise IOC events in Russia or invite Russian government or state officials to its events”.
Russia welcomed the announcement, with Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev writing on Telegram: “The IOC is sending a clear signal: the Olympic movement must remain free from politics.” The Russian government also said it plans to take part in qualification events for the 2028 Olympics.
The IOC also “strongly condemns” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but believes that “an athlete’s participation in international competition should not be limited by the involvement of their government in a war or conflict”.
The decision has received strong criticism from Ukraine. Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics because of a message on his helmet supporting his country, described the decision as “absolutely shameful”.
“It’s a huge injustice,” he was quoted as saying by the BBC. “It feels like the IOC are leaving us behind and don’t care what’s going on in our country.”
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also opposed the move, saying: “The Government has been consistently clear that the Russian state should not be represented in international sport while the illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues. We continue to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.”
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus competed as neutral athletes and won five medals between them. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Russia sent more than 300 athletes, who claimed 71 medals.
With the Los Angeles Olympics still two years away, the IOC’s decision is expected to remain a major talking point as influential sporting organisations continue to debate the balance between politics and international competition.
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