July 7 (UPI) — The International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted its ban of the Russian Olympic Committee, enabling potential participation in the 2028 Summer Games and other competitions, officials announced Tuesday.
Russian Olympic Committee athletes were prohibited from previous competitions because of the ban, which was implemented in 2023 due to a breach of the Olympic charter. The breach was tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Officials also said Tuesday they will not organize IOC events in Russia or invite Russian government or state officials to events. The committee announced in May that it also no longer recommended restrictions for athletes from Belarus, Russia’s military ally.
The announcement to lift the Russian Olympic Committee ban came just two days after more than a dozen people were killed and others sustained injuries in a Russian assault of Kyiv.
“The decision was taken following a thorough analysis by the IOC’s legal affairs commission, considering that the ROC no longer includes as its members any regional sports organizations in territories falling under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine,” the IOC said. “In addition, the ROC confirmed that it does not, and will not, conduct any activities in these territories.
“The IOC executive board will continue to closely monitor the situation relating to any ROC activities in those territories, and reserves the right to take any further measures if deemed necessary.”
The IOC said it “continues to stand in solidarity” with Ukraine’s Olympic community. The committee said decisions regarding the display of the Russian flag, anthem, colors or any other identifications for the Olympics will be announced later.
The IOC also addressed doping policies for the Russians, who were previously penalized for a state-sponsored doping scandal at the 2014 Games, citing a “lack of confidence in the global sporting community relating to their return.
As part of those policies, Russian athletes returning to the competitions “must meet relevant anti-doping requirements, particularly those set out in the anti-doping rules of the IOC and International Federations, as well as best practices established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).”
If the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, or RUSADA, remains considered non-compliant by WADA in 2028 — before the Olympics — the IOC will instruct the International Testing Agency to ensure Russian athletes were subjected to independent testing.
The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held July 14 to 30, with Los Angeles serving as host city for the majority of events.