{"id":526470,"date":"2023-03-28T10:32:10","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T17:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=526470"},"modified":"2023-03-28T12:33:31","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T19:33:31","slug":"ioc-issues-recommendations-for-russian-and-belarusian-athletes-return-to-competitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/ioc-issues-recommendations-for-russian-and-belarusian-athletes-return-to-competitions\/","title":{"rendered":"IOC Issues Recommendations For Russian And Belarusian Athletes’ Return To Competitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

IOC Issues Recommendations For Russian And Belarusian Athletes’ Return To Competitions<\/h4>\n

The International Olympic Committee<\/strong> on Tuesday issued recommendations for the return to international competitions of Russian and Belarusian athletes.<\/p>\n

The IOC’s recommendations relate only to international competitions and not the Olympic Games in Paris in July 2024 with the question of potential participation to be decided at a later date.<\/p>\n

It follows a four-month consultation and discussions with with all Olympic Movement stakeholders: the IOC Members, the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the IFs (International Federations) and athletes\u2019 representatives.<\/p>\n

Following the meeting of the Executive Board, president Thomas Bach<\/strong> said:<\/p>\n

“Sports organisations must have the sole responsibility to decide which athletes can take part in international competitions based on their sporting merits and not on political grounds or because of their passports.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The executive board of the IOC in February 2022 recommended the exclusion<\/a> of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international events following the invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Athletes were banned by World Aquatics<\/a> – then FINA – in March 2022 from competing at the World Championships<\/strong> in Budapest after which the Russian Swimming Federation<\/strong> withdrew its swimmers from all FINA competitions for the rest of the year.<\/p>\n

Those nations were also excluded from hosting international events leading to Kazan being replaced by Melbourne<\/a> as host of the 2022 World Short-Course Championships<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

That followed European body LEN’s announcement that Russian and Belarusian<\/a> athletes would not be allowed to compete at their events \u201cuntil further notice\u201d.<\/p>\n

The IOC though has made it clear it wants athletes to return to competition as neutrals which will essentially create a pathway to them competing in Paris.<\/p>\n

Ukraine sports minister Vadym Guttsait<\/strong>, who is also president of its Olympic Committee, has previously said the country could boycott the Games if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete while president Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/strong> has called for them to be excluded.<\/p>\n

IOC Recommendations For International Federations And Event Organisers<\/h3>\n