International Olympic Committee lifts ban on Russia ahead of 2028 Games

The International Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday that it is temporarily lifting a suspension on the Russian Olympic Committee, removing restrictions on Russian nationals to compete in the 2028 games in Los Angeles.

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“We wanted to ensure all athletes have the possibility to compete at the Olympic Games and not be held responsible for their governments’ actions, and I believe that this is what this decision speaks to,” IOC president Kirsty Coventry told reporters Tuesday. “It allows for Russian athletes to take part in sport competitions, but we’ve also been very clear that we don’t condone any violence and war around the world.”

The suspension has been in effect since October 2023 after the ROC included regional sports councils from occupied areas of Ukraine as members. The IOC said at the time that the move “violates the territorial integrity” of Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee and therefore breached the IOC charter.