IOC provisionally lifts ban on Russian Olympic Committee, clearing path for LA 2028 return
The International Olympic Committee ended the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee on Tuesday, allowing Russian athletes to compete in team events and qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, though the flag and anthem remain barred.
The decision
The IOC executive board provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on Tuesday, reversing a ban in place since October 2023. The move means Russian athletes can again take part in team sports and qualification events for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The IOC said the ROC no longer includes regional sports organisations from the occupied Ukrainian territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and that the ROC had confirmed it would not conduct activities there.
Conditions and anti-doping
Each Russian athlete must undergo multiple doping tests before returning to international competition, under a programme developed jointly by international federations and the World Anti-Doping Agency. The IOC stressed that the decision is provisional and that it will continue to monitor the ROC's activities in the occupied regions. No decision has been made on whether Russia may use its flag, anthem or colours at the Olympic Games; that will be addressed later. The IOC also said it would not organise events in Russia for now.
Reactions
IOC President Kirsty Coventry described the step as logical given the organisation's new strategic direction.
Given our new strategic direction, it is only logical: we have made it clear that we want to ensure all athletes have the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games without being held accountable for the actions of their government.
She added that the IOC does not condone violence or war and would stick to that stance. Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev welcomed the decision on Telegram.
The IOC is sending a clear signal: the Olympic movement must remain free of politics.
Timeline of sanctions
The ban on Russian sport began after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The IOC recommended excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes within days, and later suspended the ROC for recognising regional bodies in annexed Ukrainian territory. A handful of Russians competed as neutrals at Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026. Belarus was fully readmitted in May 2026.
- Russia invades Ukraine, Belarus used as staging ground.
- IOC recommends banning Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials.
- IOC suspends Russian Olympic Committee for recognising regional councils in occupied Ukraine.
- Russia loses CAS appeal against IOC suspension.
- Vetted Russian and Belarusian athletes compete as neutrals at Paris Olympics.
- IPC readmits Russia and Belarus as full members for Milano Cortina 2026.
- IOC urges federations to readmit Russian and Belarusian youth athletes.
- IOC fully readmits Belarus.
- IOC provisionally lifts ban on Russian Olympic Committee, allowing team events and LA 2028 qualifiers.
Winter Games changes
In a separate decision, the IOC added three new disciplines to the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps: freeride skiing, freeride snowboarding and synchronised figure skating. Nordic combined was dropped after a century on the programme. Cyclo-cross, which had been speculated about, was not included. The 2030 Games will be the first Winter Olympics with equal numbers of male and female athletes, totalling 3,046 participants across 126 disciplines.
