IOC Urges Sports Bodies to Bar Russian and Belarusian Athletes and Officials From International Events

The International Olympic Committee on Monday urged sports organizations to exclude Russian athletes and officials from all international events, framing the step as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The IOC said the move was needed to "protect the integrity of global sports competitions and the safety of all participants."

The call also covers Belarus, which allows Russian forces to launch attacks on Ukraine from its territory. The IOC said the impact of the war on Ukrainian sport outweighed the potential harm to Russian and Belarusian athletes.

The recommendation stops short of a complete ban. The IOC said a total exclusion was "not possible in the short term, for logistical and legal reasons." As a result, Russians and Belarusians could still compete as neutral athletes, without a flag, anthem or other national symbols.

The IOC also stripped Vladimir Putin of the Olympic Order, which it awarded him in 2001, along with other Russian figures who have received it since then.

The decision clears the way for FIFA to keep Russia from facing Poland in a World Cup qualifying playoff on March 24. Poland had already said it would refuse to play the Russians. UEFA, meanwhile, called a meeting of its executive committee for the coming hours and is expected to exclude Russian teams from its competitions in response to the IOC's appeal.

FIFA has not removed Russia from World Cup qualifying. It has said only that the team must compete as the Football Union of Russia, play home matches at neutral venues and refrain from using the Russian flag. The governing body has faced heavy criticism for not going further. Russia was in fact already required to use the Football Union of Russia name at the World Cup because of earlier sanctions tied to a doping scandal in Russian sport; the new element is that the rule will now extend to other regional tournaments.

Poland and Russia's next two opponents in the playoff path, Sweden and the Czech Republic, have said they will not play Russia. The Swedish Football Association expressed "disappointment" on Monday that FIFA had not suspended matches with Russia, which it described as an "illegal and deeply unjust invasion of Ukraine." The World Cup begins on November 21 in Qatar.

Sports institutions across Europe are already moving to isolate Russia by declining to host or face Russian teams. Finland wants Russia kept out of the ice hockey world championship it will host in May. The Swiss football federation said it will not play Russia at the women's European Championship in July. Albania, which is due to face Russia in the UEFA Nations League in June, has also said it will not play the Russians; Iceland and Israel complete that group.

Business ties are also being cut. German club Schalke terminated its long-standing sponsorship deal with Russian state-owned company Gazprom. UEFA, which counts Gazprom as a sponsor of the Champions League and the European Championship, is expected to follow suit and end its own agreements. Spartak Moscow's Europa League match against Germany's Leipzig next week remains scheduled.