Olympic committee removes ban on Russia before the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles

IOC Lifts Suspension on Russian Olympic Committee Ahead of 2028 Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has temporarily lifted the suspension it had placed on the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in light of the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. This announcement was made public in a press release on Tuesday.

Starting in October 2023, Russian athletes will not be allowed to compete under the national flag or have the anthem played, yet they will have the option to compete as individual neutral athletes (AIN).

During the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, a total of 13 Russian athletes were permitted to participate as AIN, while about 30 others, mainly figure skaters, chose to represent different countries including Poland, Germany, and Georgia.

At the previous Paris Summer Olympics, 32 athletes from Russia competed individually. Since 2015, Russia has been under sanctions for state-sponsored doping, and the situation intensified with the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The suspension affecting Ukraine’s sports organizations was rescinded after the IOC’s legal committee decided that these entities would no longer be classified as IOC members.

“The IOC has taken a very clear stance against aggression and strongly condemned it. This position remains unchanged. More broadly, the IOC condemns war, armed conflict, and violence that cause human suffering, wherever it occurs,” the commission stated.

“At a time of increasing instability and division around the world, the IOC remains committed to promoting peace between peoples and nations through sport,” it continued. “The IOC stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian Olympic community, and the Olympic Movement has supported this community since the beginning of the war and will continue to do so.”

The IOC reiterated that “all Russian athletes returning to international competition must meet the required anti-doping standards” to regain trust in the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). To facilitate this, athletes will be subject to multiple doping tests prior to competing in international events.