IOC calls for Russia's exclusion from sporting events

Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

International Olympic Committee calls for Russia's exclusion from sporting events

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 2/28/22

The International Olympic Committee is asking other major sports organizations around the world to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, multiple sources reported early Monday morning.

IOC Executive Board “recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions.”

Full IOC statement here: https://t.co/9c2YjqXVQu pic.twitter.com/M2TppbZWdZ
— Jackie Wong (@rockerskating) February 28, 2022

The IOC's proclamation comes as other major governing bodies in international sports have already canceled games and events in which Russian athletes were scheduled to participate. The bans have extended to cover athletes from Belarus as well, since Russia is using the neighboring country to station troops for its military strikes.

The IOC has also stripped Russian president Vladimir Putin of the Olympic Order he was issued in 2001.

The IOC has withdrawn the Olympic order from Vladimir Putin "considering the extremely grave violation of the Olympic Truce and other violations of the Olympic Charter by the Russian government in the past"
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) February 28, 2022

These actions follow criticism of FIFA, which announced it will not fully ban Russia from competing in the upcoming World Cup and allow its athletes can compete under a different name -- much like the IOC has allowed at the last two Olympics.

FIFA on Russia: “FIFA will continue its ongoing dialogue ... to determine any additional measures or sanctions including a potential exclusion from competitions, that shall be applied in the near future should the situation not be improving rapidly.”
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) February 27, 2022

Other major sports bodies, such as the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), are on the cusp of not hosting Russia in upcoming events this year after other countries have announced they won't compete against the country.

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