Belarus can come back to the Olympics. What about Russia?
‘We want all athletes to be able to participate,’ IOC president says
Ivan Litvinovich of the Individual Neutral Athletes competes during the men's trampoline finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. | Morry Gash, Associated Press When Russia invaded Ukraine back in 2022 with help from Belarus, the International Olympic Committee responded by barring the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes as punishment for starting a war that’s still being fought.
Later, though, that policy was modified to allow qualifying Russians and Belarusians to compete at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris as “neutral” athletes , without flags, uniforms or other symbols of their countries. The same was true for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, earlier this year. Once again, only a few individual athletes from Russian and Belarus were permitted to compete in the Olympics.
Now, the IOC is lifting the ban on Belarus. Russian athletes continue to be under the same restrictions because its national Olympic committee was suspended by the IOC. There’s also a new investigation into Russia’s anti-doping system.
Adeliia Petrosian of Russia, competing as a neutral athlete, performs during the women's free skating program at the ISU Skate to Milano figure skating qualifier, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Beijing, China. | Mahesh Kumar A.