EXCLUSIVE: Russia could be banned from team sport at the 2024 Olympics as bosses toughen their stance in the wake of the Ukraine conflict… as rival countries press the IOC to ban them entirely while they try to compete as neutral participants
- Russia could be excluded from team sports at the 2024 Olympics by organizers
- The invasion of land in Ukraine has forced the chiefs to toughen their stance
- Officials create strict criteria for Russian athletes to compete neutrally
Russia could be banned from team sports at next year’s Paris Olympics, under conditions being considered to allow athletes from the country to compete as “neutrals” at the games.
Sportsmail has learned that Russia will be barred from participating in team sports like football, handball and volleyball – which would effectively bar them from Olympic qualification – is among options discussed as part of a framework for international federations.
Olympic chiefs are developing “strict” criteria for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete neutrally at international events, paving the way for them to participate in any form at Paris 2024 – despite widespread criticism and boycott threats.
The International Olympic Committee is also considering expelling Russian participants guilty of “war crimes”, as well as those who actively supported the invasion of Ukraine and have ties to the military.
But the IOC risks a serious backlash as a UN expert advising the organization has said members of the Russian army should not be automatically expelled – even if they were part of the military presence that destroyed Ukraine.
Russia could be banned from team sports at the Paris 2024 Olympics as chiefs crack down amid their country’s invasion of Ukraine
Rival countries and protest groups have called for Russia to be completely banned as athletes look to compete neutrally
A ban on team sports would be a severe blow to Russia. The neutral women’s volleyball team took silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but their soccer teams have not qualified for the games since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Russia has competed neutrally at the last three Olympics due to state-sponsored doping, but Sportsmail reckons the conditions under investigation will be tougher than ever due to the war in Ukraine.
The rules for the uniform of Russian athletes at global competitions in 2023 will be tightened. No Russian insignia is allowed on clothing, while the country’s flag and anthem are also prohibited.
The IOC initially recommended banning all Russian and Belarusian athletes from international sport before announcing in January that it would work out a way for them to compete as neutral participants.
Ukraine and other countries – including the UK – have criticized this plan, calling on the IOC to bar them outright because of Russia’s all-out invasion of the nation, which began in February 2022.
In a joint statement on Monday, Britain was among countries that have again urged the IOC to return to its previous stance of banning Russians and Belarusians from international events.
Russian and Belarusian athletes remain banned from athletics because of the war.
Russia’s doping suspension was lifted last week after nearly eight years, but World Athletics President Sebastian Coe announced they would be out of the picture for major events “for the foreseeable future” due to the invasion.
Any ban would be a major blow to Russia ahead of the Paris Games – as rules for athletes from the country are already set to be tightened