International Olympic Committee agrees to enforce sanctions against athletes from Russia and Belarus

It was announced on the IOC Twitter account.

“The sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian States and Governments are not negotiable. They have been unanimously confirmed by the recent Olympic Summit meeting on 9 December 2022,” 

the organization emphasized.

It is noted that as a result of the sanctions they are starting to ban holding the international sports events, which are organized or supported by the Olympic Committees, in Russia and Belarus. Also, according to these sanctions, any sports events and meetings from the IOC are prohibited for Russians and Belarusians, as well as using their anthems, flags, colors or any other symbols of the countries.

At the same time, officials of Russia and Belarus cannot be accredited to any international meeting or sports event.

The IOC published this statement in response to the words of Stanislav Pozniakov, the president of the National Olympic Committee of Russia, who said that Russians have to participate in the 2024 Olympics together with everyone else.

The sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian States and Governments are not negotiable. They have been unanimously confirmed by the recent Olympic Summit meeting on 9 December 2022.

➡️ IOC reaction to comments made by the ROC President Stanislav Pozdnyakov. pic.twitter.com/BuQdZNseDf

— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) January 31, 2023

• On January 27, the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, said that he supports the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the 2024 Olympics, even despite Ukraine's promise to boycott the Games.