The suspension of the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in the International Olympic Committee was imposed in October 2023, following the ROC’s decision to incorporate sports organisations from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.
The IOC said it had now reversed the measure after determining that the ROC no longer includes those regional bodies and had pledged not to conduct activities in the territories under the jurisdiction of Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee.
According to the IOC Executive Board, the decision followed a legal assessment concluding that the conditions which led to the suspension were no longer in place.
The IOC said it would continue monitoring the ROC’s activities and reserved the right to reimpose sanctions should the organisation breach its commitments.
The move also means previous IOC recommendations advising international sports federations to exclude Russian athletes are no longer automatically applicable, leaving participation decisions largely to individual governing bodies.
The decision has prompted criticism from the British government, which accused the IOC of undermining the principles of the Olympic movement.
British officials argued that allowing Russia back into the Olympic fold while the war in Ukraine continues risks making “a mockery” of Olympic values and sends the wrong message to the international sporting community.
The IOC has not yet confirmed what impact the decision will have on Russian participation at the 2028 Olympic Games, to be held in Los Angeles, with qualification rules expected to be determined in the coming years.
