Athletes from Russia need adoption of certain conditions to make a return to field with national identity

Athletes belonging to Russia and Belarus, Moscow’s ally, were banned from most international competitions last year in view of the on-going Ukraine war. However latest guidelines issued by the Lausanne-based IOC on Tuesday gives a different opinion.

Participation in sports is something the people of every nation craves for. But these interests are often hindered by traumatic episodes that obstruct a person’s freedom of taking part in sports with the identity of his nation. 

Meanwhile players who are residents of Moscow and its ally were denied participation with national recognition in most of the international sports competition. However the latest guidelines of IOC claim their return into the field with their national identity.

The Kremlin noted on Wednesday that the International Olympic Committee’s guidelines allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions as neutrals include “elements of discrimination”. The guidelines are opposed by the Russian authorities who are in the view that any move to deprive athletes of their national symbols is discriminatory.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed the reporters on a conference call. “Such recommendations were characterized as containing elements of discrimination, which is unacceptable; we will continue to defend the interests of our athletes in every possible way.”

Moreover IOC President Thomas Bach stated on Tuesday that “it would be up to international sports federations to decide which athletes from Russia and Belarus can compete as neutrals, meaning without their national flag or country’s anthem”.

According to the guidelines, athletes from Russia and Belarus are deprived of taking part in team events and must possess a proven drugs testing record, while athletes in support of the war or are contracted to their countries’ military or national security agency are excluded.

The recommendations made by the IOC executive board concern the return of athletes to international competitions excluding the 2024 Paris Olympics. A separate decision concerning this would be taken at a later. Meanwhile, Ukraine and some of its allies have threatened to boycott the Paris Games should they compete, even as neutrals.