IOC lifts Russian Olympic Committee ban, opening door for 2028 Games

Source: UPI

The International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted its ban of the Russian Olympic Committee, enabling potential participation in the 2028 Summer Games and other competitions, officials announced Tuesday.

Russian Olympic Committee athletes were prohibited from previous competitions because of the ban, which was implemented in 2023 due to a breach of the Olympic charter. The breach was tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Officials also said Tuesday they will not organize IOC events in Russia or invite Russian government or state officials to events. The committee announced in May that it also no longer recommended restrictions for athletes from Belarus, Russia's military ally.

The announcement to lift the Russian Olympic Committee ban came just two days after more than a dozen people were killed and others sustained injuries in a Russian assault of Kyiv.

Read more: https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2026/07/07/IOC-lifts-ban-Russians-2028-Games/6151783441610/