Key facts
- Nine EU member states have called for the EU to stop funding sports bodies that have re-admitted Russian and Belarusian athletes.
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended its decision to provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
- The International Handball Federation (IHF) has provisionally lifted its ban on Russian and Belarusian teams and officials.
- The IHF's decision aligns with the IOC's latest recommendations.
- The IOC's decision to lift the ROC suspension was made after the organization removed regional sports bodies from occupied Ukrainian territories from its membership.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended its decision to provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), a move that has drawn criticism from nine European Union member states. These countries have urged the European Union to cease funding sports organizations that have allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competition.
The nine nations expressed their concerns in a letter to European sports commissioner Glenn Micallef, arguing that readmitting Russian and Belarusian athletes overlooks the hardships faced by Ukrainian athletes due to the ongoing conflict. The IOC spokesperson clarified that the ROC's suspension, which began in October 2023, was lifted after the organization removed regional sports bodies from occupied Ukrainian territories from its membership. The IOC stated its decision was provisional and did not signal a broader change in its position towards Russia, and that it will continue to refrain from holding events in Russia and inviting Russian government officials.
Following the IOC's decision, the International Handball Federation (IHF) provisionally lifted its ban on Russian and Belarusian teams and officials, allowing them to return to international competitions. The IHF stated its decision aligns with the IOC's recommendations and that a full reintegration may require a transitional period.