Russia Loses Appeal Against International Olympic Committee Suspension
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected Russia's appeal against the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to suspend the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
The suspension was imposed in October in response to the ROC's recognition of regional Olympic councils in territories annexed from Ukraine, including Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. The IOC deemed this action a violation of the Olympic Charter, citing concerns about the territorial integrity of Ukraine's National Olympic Committee.
Despite Russia characterising the suspension as politically motivated, the CAS panel concluded that the IOC Executive Board did not breach principles of legality, equality, predictability, or proportionality in its decision.
The IOC's suspension, which took effect immediately, denies the ROC eligibility for funding and dissociates it from the Olympic movement. While initially facing an international ban following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the IOC had later recommended the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes under specific conditions. These athletes can participate in international competitions, including the Paris 2024 Olympics, as neutrals - without national flags, emblems, or anthems. The IOC emphasised that athletes should not be penalised for the actions of their governments.
The CAS decision is deemed final and binding, however, there is a 30-day window for the involved parties to file a limited appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
