Russia Set to Make Return to Olympic Games in 2028

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have lifted a ban on Russian Athletes competing in the Olympic Games, giving them the green light to compete at Los Angeles in 2028. 

(Image credit to Olympics)

Russian athletes were first banned from competing in IOC events in 2017 due to evidence of "unprecedented systemic manipulation” of the anti doping system. They were again banned in 2022 and 2023 following the invasion of Ukraine, which prompted the IOC to ban Belarusian and Russian athletes from competing in events. 

Following on from an announcement in May 2026 that the IOC will no longer restrict the participation of Belarusian athletes, the IOC announced on 7th of July 2026 that the suspension on athletes competing under the Russian flag has also been provisionally lifted. The IOC cited the fact that the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) no longer includes as its members any sporting organisations which operate in Russian occupied parts of Ukraine. 

While athletes competing under the Russian flag have been banned in relation to the invasion of Ukraine since 2022, they have been able to compete in the games provided that they compete as neutral athletes, and complete extensive vetting to ensure that they do not publicly support the war on Ukraine. However, this decision means that they are now only required to follow the values of the olympic charter. This could raise the number of Russian competitors from just 27 in the 2026 Milano-Cortina winter games, to hundreds at the next Olympics. 

While the decision to allow the athletes back into the competition has been controversial, The IOC stressed that they continue to stand in solidarity with the Olympic community of Ukraine, stating that they are still not prepared to organise IOC events in Russia, or invite Russian government or state officials to events. Furthermore, Russian athletes wanting to compete in the Olympic Games must undergo thorough doping tests conducted by the International Testing Agency. It remains undecided whether Russia can display its flag or play its national anthem at Olympic events. 

While the Russian Sports Minister welcomed the decision, the reaction from Ukraine was not so warm, with the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine calling on the IOC to reconsider their decision. They claim that the decision was “premature, unjustified, and adopted without due regard for the objective circumstances, which have remained entirely unchanged.” They argue that there has been no change from Russia to prompt this decision, and that the ongoing full scale invasion of Ukraine continues to negatively impact their sports facilities and athletes. Since the beginning of the invasion, Ukraine has lost more than 600 athletes, coaches, and members of the sporting community. 

As it stands, other international sports organisations such as UEFA, FIFA, and World Athletics continue to uphold their restrictions on Russian competitors, but some believe that the IOC’s decision this week has left the door open for Russia’s long term return to international sports.  

Article written by Miranda Brown