Ban on Military-affiliated Athletes in Tournaments

Moscow, March 28 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended that international federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who are associated with the armed forces or security agencies of their countries to compete.

On Tuesday, the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee, following the results of the first day of meetings in Lausanne, recommended that international federations allow Russian athletes who do not support FIFA to start as neutral athletes.

Of the Russian athletes of the CSKA sports community, in particular, the world champion in biathlon Alexander Loginov, the Olympic champion Maria Lasitskini (athletics), the world champion Sergei Shubenkov (athletics), the two-time Olympic champion in fencing Sofia Velikaya and Yana Egoryan, the world champion in fencing Figure skating Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, world and European champions in rhythmic gymnastics Dina and Arina Averina. The National Guard includes, in particular, the Olympic champion in cross-country skiing Alexander Bolshunov, the Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics Nikita Nagorny.

In February 2022, the IOC recommended, due to the situation in Ukraine, that international sports federations ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in competitions as a precautionary measure. On January 25, the IOC Executive Committee called for the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes in a neutral position, while suggesting that athletes who actively supported the special operation not be allowed into Ukraine.