Olympic ban on Russian athletes provisionally lifted

Russian athletes have been given the green light to return to major competition after the International Olympic Committee announced it will provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

Russian athletes have been given the green light to return to major competition after the International Olympic Committee announced it will provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

The move ends an effective ban imposed in October 2023 in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, during which time the Russian flag and anthem has been absent from Olympic events and only a small number of heavily-vetted Russian athletes have been allowed to compete as neutrals.