IOC ending neutral status vetting for Russian athletes ahead of 2028 LA Olympics
Summary
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ended its three-year program of allowing Russian athletes to compete only as neutrals ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The IOC is starting to allow Russian athletes and teams to return under their national identity, but a final decision on using the Russian flag and anthem will come later.Key Facts
- The IOC ended the neutral status vetting program for Russian athletes before the 2028 Olympics.
- This follows an earlier decision to allow athletes from Belarus and Russia to compete with their national identity again.
- The IOC continues to support the Olympic community in Ukraine due to the ongoing war.
- Russian athletes had been competing mostly as neutrals since October 2023 after Russia’s Olympic Committee was suspended.
- At the 2024 Paris Olympics, 32 Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as neutrals, winning five medals; in 2021 Tokyo, Russia had over 300 athletes and won 71 medals.
- The IOC requires Russian athletes to undergo multiple doping tests and be part of recognized testing programs.
- The IOC will not hold events in Russia or invite Russian government officials to its events for now.
- The decision to allow Russia’s flag and anthem at the Olympics will be made at an appropriate future time.
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