The Executive Board for the International Olympic Committee issued a release on Monday recommending a ban of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions.
The recommended ban by the IOC is due to a “breach of the Olympic Truce” by the Russian and Belarusian governments. Belarus has supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
As part of the full release by the IOC, the committee recommended that international sports federations and sports event organizers around the world “not invite or allow” the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in any international competitions—for the Olympics or otherwise.
The release also reiterated the IOC’s urgent recommendation to not allow any international sports events to be organized in Russia or Belarus indefinitely.
In perhaps the most damning section of the release, the IOC has decided to “withdraw the Olympic Order from all persons who have an important role within the Russian government.” Specifically, the release named Russian president Vladimir Putin, Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Kremlin chief of staff Dmitry Kozak, who was the main overseer of the Sochi Olympics.
Despite the recommended ban of Russian and Belarusian athletes, the IOC commended the athletes of these countries who have actively called for peace amid the conflict.
