Virus Infantino: IOC signals Russia could be back in competition
IOC President Kirsty Coventry (photo: olympics.com)
After more than a decade as outcasts in international sport, Russia may be one step away from returning to major competitions. Against the backdrop of the Winter Olympics, more and more sports officials are talking about lifting restrictions, despite the war against Ukraine and doping scandals of past years, according to The New York Times.
Sanctions against Russia
Russian sport has been under restrictions since 2014. Initially, the reason was a large-scale state doping program, which, according to WADA, involved over a thousand athletes.
Later, sanctions were tightened after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At that time, the IOC recommended suspending Russian and Belarusian athletes from international tournaments.
Since then, Russians have competed only in a neutral status — without a flag, anthem, or place in the medal table.
IOC talks about "neutrality of sport"
During a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Milan ahead of the start of the Winter Games, signals were heard about a possible easing of the approach.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry, although she did not mention Russia directly, emphasized that sport must remain outside politics.
"We are a sports organization. We understand politics, and we know we don’t operate in a vacuum. But our game is sport. That means keeping sport a neutral ground," she said.
Some international federations have already taken steps toward this: in particular, in judo and taekwondo, Russians were allowed to compete under their own flag again.
Earlier, FIFA President Gianni Infantino publicly stated that Russia's suspension "achieved nothing" and should be reconsidered. This position was immediately welcomed in the Kremlin.
What a return could look like
In sports circles, it is increasingly said that a return is only a matter of time. Although the restoration process will be complicated. The IOC must cancel the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, and international federations will vote separately on allowing athletes in their sports.
If the decision is made, Russians could theoretically compete under their own symbols already at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
However, some federations may maintain their own bans.
For now — only "neutral"
At the current Winter Games, Russians are represented minimally: only 13 athletes were allowed to compete as individual neutral participants — this is the lowest number in more than a century.
They do not have the right to use national symbols, and their results are not counted in the overall medal table.
