The International Olympic Committee set the stage for Russian athletes to return to competition under their own flag in the 2028 Summer Olympics at Los Angeles, The Athletic reported Tuesday.
The Russian Olympic Committee has been under suspension since 2023 following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
The IOC’s reasoning for lifting the suspension was that the ROC no longer oversees sports organizations under what is considered the territory of Ukraine. The ROC gave assurances that it will not conduct activity in that territory, although the IOC reserves the right to review future behavior.
The decision comes days after a deadly Russian missile attack on the Ukraine capital of Kiev.
“We wanted to ensure all athletes have the possibility to compete at the Olympic Games and not be held responsible for their governments’ actions,” IOC president Kirsty Coventry said, according to The Athletic. “And I believe that this is what this decision speaks to. It allows for Russian athletes to take part in sport competitions, but we’ve also been very clear that we don’t condone any violence and war around the world.”
The IOC will continue to monitor doping concerns as well. Russia’s athletes will have to undergo multiple levels of testing in the wake of the doping scandal stemming from the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Russia has not been allowed to participate in team sports since 2014, although athletes from individual sports have been able to compete under a neutral flag.
Paralympic athletes from Russia were allowed to compete under the country’s flag earlier this year in the Winter Olympics.
–Field Level Media
