Olympics: Russia provisionally cleared to compete at LA 2028 Games

Russian athletes will be allowed to compete on behalf of their country at the 2028 Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles after the International Olympic Committee temporarily lifted their suspensions.

The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in 2023 in response to the war in Ukraine.

But it is said that it is forbidden “no longer valid”, external Athletes from Russia will also be able to compete again as long as they “fulfill the relevant anti-doping requirements”.

No decision has yet been made on whether Russia will display its flag, colors and anthem at the Olympic Games.

The IOC said it would continue “not to hold IOC events in Russia or invite the Russian government or state officials to its events.”

Some Russian athletes competed as neutrals at both the 2024 Paris Games and this year’s Winter Olympics in Milan.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, only 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus competed as approved neutrals and combined to win five medals. The Russian team participated in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with more than 300 athletes and won 71 medals.

Russia welcomed the IOC’s decision, saying the Games should be “free of politics”.

“The IOC is sending a clear signal: the Olympic movement must stay away from politics,” Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev said on Telegram, adding that Russia plans to participate in the 2028 Olympics qualifiers.

The IOC said it still “strongly condemns” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but “recognizes that an athlete’s participation in international competitions should not be limited to their government’s involvement in war or conflict.”

In May, the World Athletics Federation rejected the IOC’s recommendation to lift the ban on Belarusian athletes and teams competing under their nation’s flag.