Key facts
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifted its suspension on Russian participation in Olympic sports on July 7.
- Ukraine and European officials have criticized the IOC's decision, calling it a propaganda victory for Russia.
- FIFA is considering lifting its ban on Russian teams, having previously allowed participation for athletes under 15.
- The International Paralympic Committee reinstated the national Paralympic committees of Russia and Belarus in September.
- Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev and other sports officials are reportedly being considered for sanctions.
International sports organizations are increasingly moving to reintegrate Russian athletes and teams into global competitions, despite Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided on July 7 to lift its suspension on Russian participation, a move that has provoked strong criticism from Ukraine and several European nations.
Ukraine's sanctions chief, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, described the IOC's decision as "worrying" and counterproductive to sanctions pressure, arguing that as long as Russian sports serve as propaganda for the war, isolation should be maintained. Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostiuk called the decision "terrible" and contrary to fair play. The European Commission echoed these sentiments, stating that a normalization of Russia's participation in international events should not occur until a just peace is achieved in Ukraine.
Members of the European Parliament have also voiced opposition, drafting a letter to the IOC criticizing the decision as a propaganda victory for the Kremlin while hostilities continue. Russian officials, however, have welcomed the move. Mikhail Degtyarev, Russia's sports minister, stated that the return to the "Olympic family" signals a green light for international federations to reinstate Russian athletes' rights.
This development follows a pattern of international sports bodies easing restrictions on Russia. FIFA is reportedly considering lifting its ban on Russian teams, having already allowed Russian athletes under 15 to participate in the U-15 World Cup. A group of 44 European parliament members previously wrote to FIFA Head Gianni Infantino protesting this decision, citing the alleged kidnapping of Ukrainian children by Russia.
Experts suggest that Russian and Belarusian sports officials, who were never fully suspended, have been quietly influencing international sports organizations. Figures like Shamil Tarpishchev, president of the Russian Tennis Federation and an IOC member, and former International Fencing Federation president Alisher Usmanov, have remained influential. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) also reinstated the national Paralympic committees of Russia and Belarus in September, allowing athletes from these countries to compete in the 2026 Paralympic Games.
Ukrainian officials are considering sanctions against several leading Russian sports figures, including Sports Minister Degtyarev, though EU diplomats have not confirmed specific sporting connections in upcoming sanctions packages.