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Sky Sports’ Geraint Hughes explains how the IOC’s decision to provisionally lift the Russian Olympic Committee’s suspension
Russian athletes could be allowed to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced it will provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
The move is a significant step in the reintegration of Russian athletes and will end an effective ban that has been in place since March 2023, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
During that suspension, the Russian flag and anthem have been absent from Olympic events, and only a small number of heavily vetted Russian athletes have been allowed to compete as neutrals.
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The IOC is yet to reach a decision on whether Russian athetes will be allowed to display their flag
Many have expressed their discontent at the decision, including Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, who re-affirmed her support to Ukraine.
"I am utterly appalled with today's IOC decision," the British politician said. "The Government has been consistently clear that the Russian state should not be represented in international sport while the illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues. We continue to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.
"It is also a fact that Russia's flagrant disregard for anti-doping regulations makes a mockery of their participation in future events. Athletes from around the world must be able to turn up to events confident that they are competing on a level playing field."
Three-time Olympian Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet that bore photographs of fellow Ukrainian athletes who had been killed during the war with Russia, followed Nandy by labelling it as an "absolutely shameful decision".
In September 2025, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) voted to readmit Russian and Belarusian athletes as members, and at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games the following year, a number of Russian athletes were able to compete under their nation's flag.
In April, World Aquatics also lifted a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing at it's aquatic events under their flags.
Despite the provisional lifting of the suspension, the IOC stressed it is yet to reach a decision in relation to the restoration of protocols including the display of the Russian flag, anthem and colours.
The IOC said it had made its decision after being satisfied that the ROC does not operate in the four disputed territories that Russia has been attempting to annexe.
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The IOC said it stands with Ukraine and does not condone the conflict
As part of new participation measures, the IOC added Russian athletes must meet the relevant anti-doping requirements and that athlete selection must include a commitment to "respect, uphold, and promote a peaceful society".
The IOC said it "continues to stand in solidarity with the Olympic community of Ukraine." The IOC also said it "strongly condemned" the conflict, and added: "The IOC remains committed to promoting peace through sport among people and nations."
However, the IOC also said that it acknowledges "an athlete's participation in international competition should not be limited by the involvement of their government in a war or conflict".
IOC president Kirsty Coventry said: "We made it clear that we wanted to ensure that all athletes have the possibility to compete at the Olympic Games and not be held responsible for their government's actions, and I believe that is what this decision speaks to.
"It allows for Russian athletes to take part in sport competitions but we've also been clear that we do not condone any violence and war around the world, and we will continue with that stance."
Coventry confirmed that while the IOC will allow its international federations to make their own decisions regarding the future hosting of events in Russia, the IOC itself will not stage any competitions in the country or invite Russian government officials to its events.
"Our country's return to the Olympic family is a green light for international federations to restore the rights of our athletes," Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov said Tuesday.
'The IOC have reserved their judgement'
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Geraint Hughes explains why Russia isn't allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics
Sky Sports News' Geraint Hughes:
"What this doesn't mean is Russia are going to be at the next Olympics parading out with everyone else, waving their Russian flags. The IOC have reserved their judgement. They're kind of saying, 'yes, you can begin the process now of allowing Russian athletes back into your sport'. But they have reserved the right, at the moment, to keep Russia out of the Olympics.
"What they've said is that they will make a decision in the future.
"They are quite clear on the mood music around this, a lot of people are going to be pretty furious that Russia are being reintroduced to international sport.
"They're allowing it, but with a caveat of: 'Okay, we're doing this because we are being advised by lawyers and maybe this is the time.' That's a debate for other people.
"But at the moment, there will not be Russian athletes with Russian flags, the logos and the anthem.
"Ukraine, Ukrainian athletes and their president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will be absolutely fuming. But they will be well aware of where this direction of travel has been going.
"It's not going to make things any easier, but I think what we're going to have now as well, this could mean there are Russian athletes back at the Olympics in greater numbers. But I can't sit here right now and tell you that the Russian flag's going to be waved and there's going to be a team of 400 athletes at the Los Angeles Olympics.
"We are some distance away from that, but we're on that journey, but that journey's been going on for a little while. This should not come as a massive surprise." %!s(
