The IOC has lifted nearly all sanctions against Russia — the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee has responded
8 July 00:52
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to lift most of the restrictions on Russian sports that were imposed after the Russian Federation launched its full-scale aggression against Ukraine. In a statement, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine expressed its “categorical disagreement” with the decision of the IOC Executive Board and called for it to be reconsidered, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
What the IOC Decided
The International Olympic Committee announced that it has rescinded the recommendations to international federations regarding restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes, which had been in effect since October 2023 with respect to the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
Specifically, international sports federations will no longer be automatically advised to:
- refuse to hold international tournaments in Russia;
- not to invite representatives of the Russian government;
- prohibit the use of the Russian flag, anthem, and other state symbols.
From now on, each international federation and sports event organizer will make such decisions independently.
At the same time, the IOC itself does not currently plan to hold its own events in Russia and will not invite representatives of the Russian government.
The issue of using Russian state symbols during the Olympic Games will be considered separately.
The IOC explained that the decision is related to the start of qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
Why the IOC Eased Sanctions
The committee stated that a legal analysis had determined that the Russian Olympic Committee is no longer operating in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
This circumstance served as the basis for the temporary lifting of the ROC’s suspension, which had been in effect since October 12, 2023.
The IOC had already adopted a similar decision regarding the National Olympic Committee of Belarus on May 7, 2026.
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How Ukraine Reacted
The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine sharply criticized the IOC’s decision.
The statement emphasizes:
“We consider this decision to be premature, unfounded, and made without taking into account the objective circumstances, which remain unchanged: The Russian Federation continues its full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine, grossly violating international law and the fundamental principles of peace and security.”
The NOC emphasized that it has repeatedly provided the IOC and international sports federations with evidence that Russian sports organizations continue to violate Ukraine’s territorial jurisdiction.
“The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine has repeatedly informed and provided the International Olympic Committee and international sports federations with evidence that the Russian Olympic Committee and the sports organizations under its control continue to carry out activities that violate the territorial jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the provisions of the Olympic Charter.”
The Ukrainian side has called on the IOC to reconsider its decision.
What Will Change for Russian Sports
In effect, the IOC has delegated decision-making authority to the international federations.
This means that each sport will determine individually:
- whether to hold international tournaments in Russia;
- whether to admit Russian athletes;
- whether to allow the use of the Russian flag and national anthem;
- whether to invite representatives of the Russian government.
Thus, there will no longer be a unified policy toward Russia.
At the same time, sanctions remain in place at other sports organizations
Despite the IOC’s decision, some international federations continue to impose restrictions on Russian sports.
For example, on June 11, 2026, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) suspended the Russian Chess Federation for three years for holding tournaments in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
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