Moscow: Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) on Tuesday claimed the European Union plans to restrict funding for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other sports organizations that allow Russian athletes to compete, state-run Tass news agency reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, the SVR stated that the European Union is determined to prevent Russia's return to international sport. European officials are reportedly concerned about the IOC's decision to lift sanctions against the Russian Olympic Committee and Russian athletes, specifically regarding their potential participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics under the Russian national flag and anthem.

The SVR's statement highlighted complaints from Brussels and EU capitals, indicating that the IOC's move undermines the West's efforts to isolate Russia from global sporting events. The IOC had provisionally lifted the Russian Olympic Committee's (ROC) suspension on July 7, asserting that the committee no longer included regional sports organizations within territories claimed by Ukraine's National Olympic Committee.

In response, Ukraine announced an appeal filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, challenging the IOC's decision to lift the ROC's suspension. Ukraine's National Olympic Committee argued that the IOC acted prematurely, lacking proper verification of whether the initial violations behind the ROC's 2023 suspension had been addressed.

The IOC initially recommended barring Belarusian and Russian athletes from international competitions in late February 2022, shortly after the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In March 2023, the IOC advised that athletes from both countries could participate as Individual Neutral Athletes, barring those who actively support the war.

On May 7, the IOC Executive Board revoked its earlier restrictions on Belarusian athletes or teams in events governed by international federations, thereby lifting previous participation conditions.