IOC stands by sanctions in opposition to Russia and Belarus over invasion of Ukraine | Worldwide Olympic Committee

Every week after seeming to open the door for Russia and Belarus to compete on the 2024 Olympics, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) stated it’s standing by sanctions imposed in opposition to the international locations over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The IOC issued an announcement on Tuesday in response to feedback by Stanislav Pozdnyakov, head of Russia’s Olympic Committee, earlier within the day. He in flip was talking after the IOC’s personal announcement final week that athletes from the 2 international locations, banned from competing in Europe, could be allowed to earn slots for Paris 2024 by Asian qualifying methods.

“The sanctions in opposition to the Russian and Belarusian states and governments aren’t negotiable. They’ve been unanimously confirmed by the latest Olympic summit assembly on 9 December 2022,” the IOC tweeted.

These sanctions embody not inviting any authorities officers from both Russia or Belarus to worldwide sporting occasions and never organising sports activities occasions in each international locations.

Final week, nonetheless, the IOC stated the Olympic Council of Asia had provided Russian and Belarusian athletes the possibility to compete in Asia, drawing an outcry from Kyiv which has referred to as for Russian sportspeople to be banned over Russia’s invasion.

Pozdnyakov responded to that by telling reporters: “Definitely, there may be some try by the Worldwide Olympic Committee to permit our athletes to take part in worldwide competitions. Perhaps sooner or later Olympic Video games as effectively, in fact, we welcome it solely,” he added, whereas cautioning in opposition to what he stated had been “further circumstances” imposed on Russian athletes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that permitting Russia to compete on the 2024 Video games can be tantamount to exhibiting that “terror is someway acceptable.” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak stated on Monday that the IOC was “selling violence, mass murders, destruction” and {that a} Russian presence on the Video games would represent giving the nation “a platform to advertise genocide”.

The IOC, which has additionally largely handed over the problem of Russian Olympic participation to particular person sports activities federations, issued an announcement saying it “rejects within the strongest doable phrases this and different defamatory statements. They can not function a foundation for any constructive dialogue.”

Ukraine hopes to safe widespread worldwide assist for banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paris Olympics, its sports activities minister stated on Tuesday, whereas officers have additionally talked of a doable boycott ought to they be allowed to compete.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many sports activities our bodies have suspended Russian groups or athletes in protest, with the IOC recommending occasions in Russia be cancelled and Russian and Belarusian athletes compete beneath a impartial flag.

Russia’s Olympic workforce had already confronted restrictions after it was discovered to have flouted anti-doping guidelines, and it competed beneath a impartial flag eventually 12 months’s Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The IOC is eager to incorporate Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals in 2024, which might imply competing beneath the Olympic flag, however it’s nonetheless unclear if and the way they might qualify.

Some nationwide Olympic committees, together with Olympic heavyweight america, have backed the doable return of these athletes beneath a impartial flag.

The IOC stated final week after consulting stakeholders that “no athlete must be prevented from competing simply due to their passport”.