The IOC Executive Board’s decision to provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) has triggered mixed reactions across the global sporting community. While several international federations have welcomed the move, many organisations across Europe remain firmly opposed.
Among the first to endorse the IOC’s announcement was the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which backed Tuesday’s decision to withdraw the recommended participation restrictions imposed on Russian athletes and teams following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The OCA reiterated its longstanding belief that athletes should not be denied the opportunity to compete internationally because of conflicts involving their home countries.
Highlighting the unifying role of sport, the council pointed to the recent Asian Beach Games in Sanya, where athletes representing all 45 Asian National Olympic Committees competed peacefully despite ongoing regional and global tensions. The OCA said the event demonstrated how sport can promote unity and understanding, reaffirming its commitment to peace through sport while continuing to condemn armed conflict and violence.
Backing the decision
Several combat sports governing bodies, which had already eased restrictions on Russian athletes, also welcomed the IOC’s latest move. World Taekwondo acknowledged the removal of the recommended participation conditions, noting that the decision is consistent with its own policy adopted in January 2026, which allows Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags and uniforms, although the IOC has yet to approve that stage of reinstatement.
World Taekwondo President Dr Chungwon Choue said the federation remains committed to the universality of sport and the principle that athletes should be judged solely on their sporting performances and compliance with anti-doping regulations. He also confirmed that an extraordinary council meeting in Chuncheon, South Korea, this September will consider lifting the remaining institutional and event-hosting restrictions.
The International Judo Federation also welcomed the provisional lifting of the suspension, noting that it had already introduced its own eligibility framework for Russian athletes in late 2025 to safeguard sporting integrity while respecting Olympic values. Echoing the IOC’s position, the federation stressed that competitors should not face discrimination based on nationality and reaffirmed its close cooperation with the International Testing Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency to ensure strict anti-doping standards remain in place.
IBA says outcome was expected
The International Boxing Association (IBA) reacted particularly positively, arguing that the IOC’s decision reflected the position it had advocated from the outset. When the IBA became the first international federation to refuse sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes, allowing them to compete under their national flags and anthems, the move was met with widespread criticism. However, the organisation consistently maintained that other sporting bodies, including the IOC, would eventually adopt a similar approach.
IBA President Umar Kremlev welcomed the IOC’s decision, claiming it represented an acknowledgement that previous policies had been misguided.
“The IOC had no choice but to lift the restrictions and admit its mistakes,” Kremlev said. “The new leadership is replacing previous management and correcting decisions that proved to be wrong. International federations must stand with athletes and ensure that sport, not politics, determines who stands on the podium.”
Kremlev also argued that national identity is inseparable from an athlete’s career, insisting Russian competitors should return to international sport under their own flag and anthem. He urged international federations to eliminate discrimination based on nationality or religion and allow athletes to represent their countries under their national symbols.
Support from World Aquatics and Russia
World Aquatics also welcomed the IOC Executive Board’s decision. President Husain Al Musallam said the federation remains committed to ensuring aquatic sports continue to provide a platform for peaceful competition and unity, adding that World Aquatics supports the IOC’s latest announcement.
The response in Russia was immediate, with government officials hailing the decision as a major step towards restoring the country’s place in international sport. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the move as an important milestone in rebuilding relations between the Russian Olympic Committee and the IOC, saying it represented progress towards restoring Russian athletes’ legitimate right to compete on the global stage.
Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev credited the IOC’s decision to the sustained legal and diplomatic efforts of both his ministry and the Russian Olympic Committee. He argued that the move effectively paves the way for international federations to fully reintegrate Russian athletes into competition.
“More than 20 international federations already allow junior athletes to compete under the Russian flag and anthem, while 10 federations admit Russian athletes without restrictions,” Degtyarev said. “The IOC’s decision will help accelerate this process.”
Norway sides with Ukraine
Not all reactions were positive. Several Northern European sporting bodies and political leaders strongly criticised the IOC’s decision, echoing concerns raised by Ukrainian officials.
Zaineb Al-Samarai, president of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports, said she strongly disagreed with restoring full participation rights for Russian athletes. She noted that Norway, together with other Nordic Olympic and Paralympic committees, has repeatedly communicated its opposition to the IOC, arguing that the current geopolitical situation does not justify Russia’s return to international competition. Al-Samarai also acknowledged that this position currently represents a minority view within the wider sporting community.
The Latvian Olympic Committee also condemned the decision, warning that lifting the restrictions risks sending the message that military aggression and breaches of international law can ultimately be overlooked. Latvian officials argued that meeting administrative requirements should not outweigh the ongoing reality of the war in Ukraine or the continued attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. They also pointed to unresolved anti-doping concerns, noting that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has yet to satisfy the conditions required for reinstatement by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
UK and Sweden voice concern
Swedish Olympic Committee chairman Hans von Uthmann also criticised the IOC’s decision, describing it as both disappointing and regrettable. He argued that there had been no meaningful change in the circumstances surrounding Russia’s participation to justify such a reversal.
In the United Kingdom, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy voiced similar concerns in comments to The Telegraph, saying she was “utterly appalled” by the IOC’s decision. She reiterated the British government’s position that Russia should not be represented in international sport while its full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues, adding that the country’s record on anti-doping further undermines its credibility in international competition.
The decision has also been criticised by the foreign ministries of Latvia and Estonia, as well as athlete advocacy organisations including Global Athlete and FairSport.
Despite the sharply divided opinions, some international federations have adopted a more cautious approach. FIFA acknowledged the IOC’s announcement but said it would carefully assess the decision before deciding on any future action, adding that it would consult with the relevant stakeholders before determining its position.
Winter sports remain cautious
Winter sports governing bodies, particularly those overseeing biathlon, have maintained a firm stance despite the IOC’s latest decision. In a statement reported by TASS, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) acknowledged the IOC’s updated recommendations but stressed that decisions on athlete eligibility remain the responsibility of each individual international federation.
IBU President Olle Dahlin confirmed that the federation’s position has not changed, meaning the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes adopted by the 2022 IBU Congress remains fully in place. Dahlin added that the IBU Executive Board has established a dedicated monitoring group to assess geopolitical developments and oversee compliance, with regular updates to be provided to the federation’s leadership ahead of the upcoming winter season.
Only the beginning?
Despite the positive reaction from Russian officials, many within the country’s sporting community recognise that the IOC’s decision is unlikely to result in an immediate return to international competition. Instead, the provisional lifting of the suspension is widely viewed as the first stage of what could be a lengthy and complex reinstatement process.
Speaking to Championat.com, Olympic cross-country skiing champion Alexander Legkov said the IOC’s decision has limited practical impact at present, arguing that Russia’s return will ultimately depend on the policies adopted by individual international federations rather than the IOC alone.
He added that the focus has now shifted from symbolic victories to securing access to competitions on a sport-by-sport basis. Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev echoed that assessment, acknowledging that “there is still a lot of work ahead” to ensure the IOC’s decision is implemented across international sporting organisations.
