Russia has accused European countries of trying to prevent its athletes from returning fully to international sport, as the debate over Russian participation continues.
Dmitry Svishchyov, a senior member of Russia’s State Duma sports committee, said the International Olympic Committee should resist what he described as European pressure and continue allowing Russian athletes to compete under the conditions set by the IOC.
His comments followed a report from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), which claimed that some European officials are concerned about the IOC’s approach towards Russian athletes and the Russian Olympic Committee. The SVR alleged that the European Union could consider additional measures, including visa restrictions targeting Russian athletes and sports officials.
Restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes have been in place since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, eligible athletes from the two countries were allowed to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes, subject to strict eligibility requirements.
The IOC’s position has remained controversial. European governments and Ukrainian officials have generally supported continued restrictions, while Russian authorities argue that athletes should not be excluded because of their nationality.
The issue is likely to become even more important ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with uncertainty remaining over whether Russian athletes will be allowed to compete under their national flag, as neutrals or under further restrictions.
The dispute reflects the wider challenge facing international sport: balancing the principle of keeping politics separate from competition with the demands created by major international conflicts.
Watch MaltaSport Podcast 👇
