World Athletics will not follow the IOC's decision to lift sanctions against Belarusian athletes. Restrictions will remain in place until there are concrete signs of progress towards peace in Ukraine.
World Athletics (WA), one of the largest international sports federations, has refused to lift sanctions against Belarusian and Russian athletes, despite a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the day before. The federation stated on Friday, May 8, that it would reconsider its position only when there are concrete signs of progress towards peace negotiations regarding Ukraine.
"Our council unanimously supports the decision made in March 2022, which was reviewed in 2023 and will be again in 2025," emphasized a representative of the organization.
On May 7, the IOC lifted sanctions against Belarusian athletes - the decision was made by the organization's executive committee under the leadership of President Kirsty Coventry. Belarusian athletes have been granted the right to compete in international competitions under their national flag and anthem, including in team sports. Russia, however, remains suspended.
WA's sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes, officials, and coaches were imposed in March 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. WA President Sebastian Coe, who is also a member of the IOC, visited Ukraine ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he met with athletes and President Volodymyr Zelensky to express his solidarity with the Ukrainian side.
Since February 2022, Russia and Belarus have effectively been suspended from global sports. Individual athletes who do not actively support the war could compete under a neutral status - this was the IOC's recommendation to international federations. As reported by BB.lv, the IOC has now withdrawn this recommendation concerning Belarus, but World Athletics has not accepted it.
Leave a comment