Ukraine files appeal after IOC restores Russian Olympic Committee's rights
The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine will fight against Russia's return to international sport (Photo: noc-ukr.org)
The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOC) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have launched an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne against the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) July 7, 2026, decision to reinstate the rights of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), according to an official statement from the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.
Appeal to CAS and alleged violation of the Olympic Charter
The NOC of Ukraine filed its Statement of Appeal with CAS on July 28, 2026, officially launching proceedings to challenge the IOC Executive Board's decision to restore the Russian Olympic Committee's status.
According to Ukraine's sports authorities, the IOC's decision is controversial, contradicts established CAS case law, and ignores the key circumstances that led to the suspension of the ROC's membership in 2023.
Grounds for the appeal
Ukraine argues that the IOC acted prematurely by restoring the ROC's rights without properly verifying whether the violations that prompted the suspension had been resolved.
The central issue is the illegal interference with the territorial jurisdiction of the NOC of Ukraine, specifically the inclusion of regional sports organizations from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories within the structure of the Russian Olympic Committee.
"Filing this appeal is an important step in defending the principles of the Olympic Charter, international law, and Ukraine's territorial integrity within the international sports community," the NOC of Ukraine said.
The committee stressed that it remains committed to defending the interests of Ukrainian sport in international courts.
What restrictions the IOC lifted
Earlier in July 2026, the International Olympic Committee removed all of its recommendations that had significantly limited the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions.
The move effectively paved the way for athletes from the aggressor states to return more fully to the global Olympic movement.
Previously, we also reported that nine European countries called for the IOC to be stripped of millions of euros over its assistance to Russia.
