Lausanne: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it had lifted all restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes and teams in international competitions.
According to Anadolu Agency, a press release by the IOC's Executive Board indicated that it 'no longer recommends any restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams, in competitions governed by International Federations and international sports event organizers.' The statement emphasized the IOC's commitment to maintaining a 'values-based and truly global sporting platform that provides hope to the world' amid the 'current geopolitical context' and 'growing global instability.'
The IOC stated that athletes' participation in international competitions should not be limited by their governments' actions, including involvement in a war or conflict. It also acknowledged the commencement of the qualification period for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games this summer.
Regarding the situation with Russian athletes, the IOC noted that the case of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) is different from that of Belarus. The Belarusian National Olympic Committee remains in good standing with the Olympic Charter. Meanwhile, the ROC is still suspended as the IOC Legal Affairs Commission continues to review the matter. The IOC Executive Board also expressed concern over recent developments prompting the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to investigate the Russian anti-doping system.
In February 2022, the IOC recommended the exclusion of Belarusian and Russian athletes from international competitions following the start of the Ukraine war. By March 2023, the IOC allowed Belarusian and Russian athletes to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes, provided they did not actively support the war. Since then, Belarusian athletes have participated as Individual Neutral Athletes in numerous international sporting events, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, without any incidents.