Lawmakers have confirmed Russian and Belarusian athletes will be permitted to participate as neutrals at the Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing despite the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The International Paralympic Committee confirmed its decision in a statement on Wednesday, two days before the Games are set to get underway in China on Friday.
"The RPC (Russian Paralympic Committee) and NPC Belarus will participate as neutrals at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games," an IPC statement read. "They will compete under the Paralympic flag and not be included in the medal table."
Russia began its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last Thursday, with attacks taking place across major cities such as the capital, Kyiv, along with Donetsk, Odessa and Kharkiv.
The exact death toll remains unknown, although the United Nations human rights office confirmed at least 136 civilian deaths as of this Tuesday, with many more wounded.
Russia has been shunned in several sports sectors after being hit by international sanctions.
The Russian Grand Prix has been removed from the Formula 1 calendar this year, while the Champions League final—which was due to take place in the capital, Moscow—has been moved to Paris.
Following the Winter Paralympics, the IPC said it will host a General Assembly this year and vote on whether to make compliance with the Olympic Truce a membership requirement.
Participating members will also decide whether to suspend or terminate the memberships of the Russian Paralympic Committee and Belarus Paralympic Committee.
"In deciding what actions the IPC should take, it was fundamental that we worked within the framework of our new constitution to remain politically neutral and within the IPC Handbook, the rules and regulations that govern the Paralympic Movement," said IPC president Andrew Parsons.
"Such neutrality is firmly anchored in the genuine belief that sport holds the transformative power to overcome our shortcomings, and summon from within us the best of our humanity, especially in the darkest of moments.
“What we have decided upon is the harshest possible punishment we can hand down within our constitution and the current IPC rules."
It was first reported on Tuesday that Belarus had answered Russia's call to join the invasion.
Athletes from Ukraine, meanwhile, will be allowed to compete as normal in Beijing, although there have been fears the country would be unable to send a delegation following the invasion.
However, it was confirmed on Tuesday that a full team of 20 athletes and nine guides will travel to China.
They'll be competing in the biathlon and cross-country skiing, the two events that saw Ukraine produce 22 medals at Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018 (including seven golds).
