IOC Outlines Pathway for Belarusian Athletes to Participate at the Olympics

March 29th, 2023

The International Olympic Committee outlined their deliberations and recommendations regarding a pathway for athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport to return to international competitions as Individual Neutral Athletes.

The Executive Board reiterates that the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 was not considered either in the consultations or in its deliberations today. The IOC expressly reserves the right to decide about their participation at the appropriate time, even if they would be considered to have qualified according to the qualification criteria set by their respective International Federations (IFs).

the IOC has recommended that:

1: No international sports events be organised in Russia and Belarus;

2: No flag, anthems or other national symbols whatsoever should be displayed at any international sports events; and

3: No government or state officials should be accredited for or invited to any international sports events.

These sanctions were put in place in February 2022 and were then reinforced and confirmed by the Olympic Summit on 9 December 2022. The IOC Executive Board today underlines that they remain firmly in place.

The IOC Executive Board today issues to International Federations and international sports event organisers the following recommendations:

Athletes with a Russian or a Belarusian passport must compete only as Individual Neutral Athletes.

Teams of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport cannot be considered.

Athletes who actively support the war cannot compete. Support personnel who actively support the war cannot be entered.

Athletes who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies cannot compete. Support personnel who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies cannot be entered.

Any such Individual Neutral Athlete, like all the other participating athletes, must meet all anti-doping requirements applicable to them and particularly those set out in the anti-doping rules of the International Federations.

The sanctions against those responsible for the war, the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, must remain in place.

No decision on Paris 2024 or Milano Cortina 2026 participation

The IOC Executive Board confirmed that these recommendations do not concern the participation of athletes and their support personnel with a Russian or Belarusian passport at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 or the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The IOC will take this decision at the appropriate time, at its full discretion, and without being bound by the results of previous Olympic qualification competitions.