The International Olympic Committee advised Olympic sports bodies on Tuesday to end a three-year program vetting Russian athletes for neutral status ahead of qualifying events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, effectively winding down the suspension imposed in October 2023.
The move follows an IOC decision two months earlier that allowed athletes from Belarus, Russia's military ally, to compete again under their full national identity. The suspension had been imposed after the Russian Olympic Committee incorporated regional sports councils from occupied regions of Ukraine, a condition the IOC said no longer applied.
A Path Back to Full Competition
Just 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics as approved neutrals, combining for five medals, a steep drop from the more than 300 Russian athletes who competed at the 2021 Tokyo Games and won 71 medals. The IOC said Russian athletes must still meet strict anti-doping requirements and commit to "respect, uphold and promote a peaceful society" to take part.
Flag and Anthem Still Withheld
The IOC has not yet approved letting Russian athletes and teams compete under their own flag and anthem, saying that decision will come "at an appropriate time." The organization said it will continue to withhold IOC events from Russia and will not invite Russian government or state officials to its events. Ukraine's Olympic community has criticized the move, with officials saying it sends a troubling signal while the war in Ukraine continues.
