The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to temporarily suspend the Russian Olympic Committee. This happened because the international sports association punished the Russians for incorporating annexed Ukrainian territories into their own national sports association. As for the participation of individual Russian athletes, including cyclists, under a neutral flag at the 2024 Olympics, that decision will be made later.
The Russian Olympic Committee accepted the regional sports organizations of four annexed territories in Ukraine as members. This concerns the sports associations of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhia. According to the IOC, this violates the Olympic Charter.
Due to the IOC’s decision, the Russian Olympic Committee can no longer function as a National Olympic Committee. It will also not receive any funding from the international sports organization.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games
The suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee does not have immediate consequences for the participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Olympics. Russian athletes, including cyclists, may be able to participate in the Paris Games under a neutral flag. This will have to be decided later. “The suspension of the National Olympic Committee will in no way affect the participation of independent athletes,” said IOC spokesperson Mark Adams in a press conference after the council meeting.