The world of international sport is once again shaken by a decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This time, it is the Russian National Olympic Committee which is paying the price following the inclusion of several sports organizations from the occupied Ukrainian regions under its authority. A decision which does not fail to provoke reactions and questions.
The decision taken by the IOC is final: the Russian national Olympic committee is suspended with immediate effect. This sanction comes in addition to the ban on any international competition on Russian soil and in Belarus, as well as the ban on using the official symbols of these two countries during sporting events since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
This decision, taken during the IOC meeting in Bombay, is motivated by the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine by the Russian sports authorities. By including sports organizations from the Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk and Zaporizhia regions, located in eastern Ukraine occupied by the Russian army, the Russian National Olympic Committee violated the Olympic Charter.
The IOC once again finds itself faced with a delicate situation. Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, the Olympic body has sought to find a balance between sanctions against the Russian authorities responsible for the conflict, financial support for the Ukrainian sports community and protection measures for Russian athletes.
The participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions is a thorny and divisive issue. The IOC initially recommended the exclusion of athletes from both countries, to preserve the integrity of the competitions. Then he reversed course by recommending their reinstatement under a neutral banner, provided they did not actively support the war in Ukraine.
This suspension of the Russian national Olympic committee therefore raises new questions about the participation of Russian athletes in the next Olympic Games. The IOC will have to make a decision later on this delicate and politically sensitive subject.
This new sanction from the IOC against Russia does not fail to provoke a reaction. The Russian National Olympic Committee denounces a decision clearly motivated by political considerations. For its part, the Ukrainian presidency welcomes this decision and recalls that sport cannot be dissociated from politics when acts of genocide are committed.
The suspense remains as to the participation of Russian athletes in the next Olympic Games. The IOC must decide at the appropriate time, taking into account the issues and consequences of its decision. In the meantime, the world of sport continues to ask questions about the right place to be given to politics in the context of international competitions.