IOC backs Russian, Belarusian athletes return as ‘impartial’ entries to occasions; no determination on Paris Olympics

The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday issued suggestions for the gradual return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to worldwide competitors. Olympic chiefs, as per AFP, advisable their return as particular person neutrals however shunned giving a timeline on their potential participation at subsequent 12 months’s Paris Olympics. As per Reuters, the IOC Govt Board will take a call concerning the Paris Olympics at a later date. IOC president Thomas Bach mentioned that the board had advisable to worldwide federations and sports activities occasion organisers that “athletes with a Russian or a Belarusian passport should compete solely as Particular person Impartial Athletes,” with no flag or anthem.

Bach mentioned that politics couldn’t be a part of sports activities competitions and that athletes shouldn’t be punished for his or her passports. 

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The IOC suggestions embody solely impartial entries, together with a ban on participation in group occasions. Moreover, athletes will need to have a confirmed drug testing document. Moreover, sports activities individuals who assist the Ukraine struggle or are contracted to their international locations’ navy or nationwide safety businesses are to be excluded.

Speaking in regards to the Paris Olympics determination, Bach mentioned: “The IOC will take this determination on the acceptable time at its full discretion, with out being sure by outcomes of earlier Olympic qualifiers.” He didn’t specify a time-frame.

Ukraine welcomed the choice to “postpone” the choice concerning Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation within the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Nonetheless, Russian Olympic Committee chief, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, labelled the suggestions “completely unacceptable.”

Many different international locations reacted angrily. Czech International Minister Jan Lipavsky mentioned Russia had no place within the Olympics, and that he was “upset by the IOC suggestions.”

Ukraine’s neighbour Poland known as it a “day of disgrace” for the Olympic physique. Polish Deputy International Minister Piotr Wawrzyk took to Twitter to ask “What occurred that was so optimistic from the Russian facet that their athletes ought to participate in competitions!!.” 

(With inputs from businesses)

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