The International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on Thursday, October 12, but it has not changed its position regarding the possible participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, reports BBC.
The IOC stated in a statement that Russia’s decision on October 5 to include the occupied territory – Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporozhye – regional sports organizations in its [ROC] is a violation of the Olympic Charter because it “infringes on the territorial integrity of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine”. Due to the violation, the ROC has been suspended and
the decision is effective immediately and will remain in effect “until further notice”.
This means that the IOC is “no longer eligible to act as a full National Olympic Committee” and “cannot receive funding from the Olympic Movement”.
The ROC condemned the IOC’s decision, calling it a “counterproductive decision with obvious political motives”.
The IOC added that whether Russian athletes will be able to compete as neutral athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics will be decided “at the appropriate time”.
Ukraine has warned of a possible boycott of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris if the complete ban on athletes from Russia and Belarus is not maintained. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, emphasized the importance of the decision, saying that “sport cannot be isolated from politics” and accused Russia of using “athletes as propaganda.”
Also read: VIDEO | The Russians are stepping up their attacks in eastern Ukraine
