Samuelson described the decision of the International Olympic Committee to return the Russians to the championships as a sad decision

Moscow, January 26 – Swedish Olympic biathlon champion Sebastian Samuelsson called the decision of the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to return Russian athletes to international competitions as sad and unexpected.

On January 25, the IOC Executive Committee called for the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions in a neutral position, while suggesting that athletes who actively supported the special operation not be allowed into Ukraine.

At the end of February 2022, the International Olympic Committee recommended that, due to the situation in Ukraine, international sports federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as precautionary measures. The International Biathlon Union (IBU) congress decided in September to support the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions until further notice amid the situation in Ukraine. In December, the closing declaration of the Olympic Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland, spoke of global support for an initiative by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to review these safeguards.