Russian Olympic Committee suspended for recognizing Ukraine-occupied regions
IOC says ROC will not be eligible for funding, but neutral Russian athletes can still compete
The International Olympic Committee said on Thursday that the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) had been suspended with immediate effect for having recognized regional organizations from four areas that had been taken by Ukraine.
After recognizing Olympic councils from the areas of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia earlier this month, the IOC stated that the ROC would not be eligible for any financing; nevertheless, it would not have an impact on any Russian athletes competing as neutrals.
"A breach of the Olympic Charter has occurred with the unilateral decision made on October 5, 2023, by the Russian Olympic Committee to include as members the regional sports organizations governed by the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine (Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia)," the IOC stated in a statement.
"... it violates the territorial integrity of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine, as recognized by the Olympic Charter and the International Olympic Committee (IOC)."
Before the IOC session, which takes place from October 15–17, the IOC executive board is gathering in Mumbai. The judgment made on Thursday has no bearing on the IOC's later decision regarding Belarusian and Russian athletes' participation in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
"Independent athletes' participation is unaffected by the ROC's suspension," IOC spokesman Mark Adams stated at a press conference.
Although the Russian Olympic Committee deemed the action counterproductive, Ukraine applauded it.
The head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, stated on Telegram that "this is an important decision."
It was a politically motivated move, according to the ROC.
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