The International Olympic Committee (IOC) took a strong decision on Thursday by suspending the Russian national Olympic committee. This sanction follows the latter’s takeover of several sports organizations present in the occupied Ukrainian regions. This measure is in addition to the ban already in force on all international competitions in Russia and Belarus, as well as the use of the official symbols of these two countries on the fields and podiums.
This decision by the IOC will, however, have no impact on the possible participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under a neutral banner at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 and Milan-Cortina in 2026. This question will be examined closer to the date of the Games, according to IOC spokesperson Mark Adams.
The suspension of the Russian national committee follows a “political” decision on its part to integrate the sports organizations of the Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk and Zaporizhia regions, located in eastern Ukraine and currently under Russian occupation. For the IOC, this approach is a violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Olympic Charter.
The Russian National Olympic Committee reacted angrily to the sanction, calling it a “counterproductive and clearly politically motivated decision.” For its part, the Ukrainian presidency welcomed the decision, saying that sport could not be separated from politics when terrorist acts committed by Russia in Ukraine were used for propaganda purposes.
Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, the IOC has sought a delicate balance between sanctions against the Russian authorities responsible for the conflict, financial support for the Ukrainian sports community and protection measures for Russian athletes.
This situation led the IOC to initially recommend banning competitions in Russia and Belarus as well as the use of the official symbols of these countries. But the question of the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions was more difficult to decide, between the principle of non-discrimination and fear of boycotts.
Finally, the IOC recommended the reinstatement of Russian and Belarusian athletes under a neutral banner, provided that they had not actively supported the war in Ukraine. This recommendation was followed by most international federations, with the notable exception of the International Athletics Federation.
For the Paris and Milan Olympic Games, however, the IOC dissociated the question of the reintegration of Russian and Belarusian athletes from their participation in the Games, which is attracting increased political attention. In this case, the suspension of the Russian national committee leaves suspense surrounding the final decision of the IOC.
In conclusion, the IOC’s decision to suspend the Russian National Olympic Committee marks a new stage in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This sanction underlines the importance of respecting territorial integrity and the principles of the Olympic Charter. It now remains to be seen what the IOC’s decision will be regarding the participation of Russian athletes in the next Olympic Games. Sport and politics continue to intertwine their destinies, with political issues increasingly present on the international sports scene.