Ukraine could boycott Olympics over IOC plan for Russian and Belarusian athletes

27 January 2023 , 12:17

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Ukraine could be absent from the Paris Olympics next year should Russian and Belarusian athletes be permitted (Image: Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has found itself at the centre of a political divide after Ukraine threatened to boycott the Summer Games.

That's after it was reported this week that the IOC would consider allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus—whose troops are actively invading Ukraine—to compete under a neutral flag. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shown no signs of stopping as things stand, with only 18 months to go before Paris hosts the 2024 Olympics.

"Our position is unchanged," wrote Ukrainian sports minister Vadym Guttsait in a Facebook post. "As long as there is a war in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be in international competitions."

Guttsait went on to say Ukraine is exploring its options to maintain sanctions against Russia and Belarus. "If we are not heard, I do not rule out the possibility that we will boycott and refuse participation in the Olympics," he added.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) previously handed Russia a four-year suspension from all major sporting events after a state-sponsored doping programme was unearthed in the lead-up to Tokyo 2020. However, many Russian athletes were then allowed to compete under the 'Russian Olympic Committee' banner despite what was described as 'the biggest sports scandal world has seen'.

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As part of the IOC's conceived plans, athletes from Russia and Belarus hoping to participate must also have not expressed support for the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, joined the chorus of advocates against Russian participation, arguing those athletes 'have no place' in Paris.

Do you think Russian and Belarusian athletes should be banned from the Olympics? Let us know in the comments section.

Ukraine's sports minister, Vadym Guttsait, has said the country could boycott the Olympics if athletes from Russia and Belarus are allowed to participate (Pavlo Bagmut / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

The IOC's argument suggested "no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport," but some have suggested the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes would legitimise Vladimir Putin's war. The United Kingdom's Culture Secretary, Michelle Donelan, called on IOC president Thomas Bach to heed his own words when those athletes were initially banned last year.

"This position from the IOC is a world away from the reality of war being felt by the Ukrainian people - and IOC president [Thomas] Bach's own words less than a year ago where he strongly condemned Russia for breaking the Olympic Truce and urged it to 'give peace a chance,'" said the former Secretary of State for Education. "We, and many other countries, have been unequivocal on this throughout, and we will now work urgently across like-minded countries to ensure that solidarity continues on this issue."

Ukraine has won at least one gold medal at each of the seven editions of the Olympics since it began competing as a sovereign nation at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. However, the nation registered its lowest finish of 44th at Tokyo 2020 after sending a record low number of athletes to Japan (155).

Tom Sunderland