Russia Olympic ban lifted: Will Russian athletes be allowed to compete under their own flag in Los Angeles 2028?
The International Olympic Committee provisionally lifts the ban it had maintained over the invasion of Ukraine.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed today to provisionally lift its ban on Russia, paving the way for the country to compete at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. The recommendations issued to international federations restricting Russian participation following the invasion of Ukraine, which had been in force since February 2022, are no longer applicable. As a result, Russian athletes may now take part in Olympic qualification events.
In a statement, the IOC said:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) that had been in effect since 12 October 2023. The decision was taken following a thorough analysis by the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission, considering that the ROC no longer includes as its members any regional sports organisations in territories falling under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine. In addition, the ROC confirmed that it does not, and will not, conduct any activities in these territories. The IOC EB will continue to closely monitor the situation relating to any ROC activities in those territories, and reserves the right to take any further measures if deemed necessary.
The decision follows the IOC Executive Board’s meeting on May 7, 2026, when it lifted the participation conditions it had recommended to international federations and event organizers regarding Belarus and Belarusian athletes.
At its meeting on Tuesday in Lausanne, the IOC Executive Board announced that it was extending the same decision to Russia. However, it said it will continue to “closely monitor” any activity by the Russian Olympic Committee in Ukrainian territories and reserved the right to “take any further measures it deems necessary.”
The IOC explained that, because the qualification period for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games has begun and “given the need to offer all athletes equal access,” the Executive Board has decided that its recommended participation conditions for Russian athletes and teams “are no longer applicable.” As a result, it will now be up to each international federation to decide whether to allow events to be held in Russia and whether the country’s flag and anthem may be displayed.
The IOC Executive Board has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee. Recommendations to International Federations with regard to Russian athletes’ participation are no longer applicable.
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) July 7, 2026
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