IOC lifts all restrictions on Belarusian athletes in international sports
Synopsis
The IOC has ended three years of restrictions on Belarusian athletes — a sweeping policy reversal that clears their path to LA 2028 just as the qualification window opens. Crucially, Russia's Olympic Committee remains suspended, revealing a deliberate split in how the IOC is handling the two nations most associated with the Ukraine war.
Key Takeaways
The IOC Executive Board on 7 May 2025 lifted all restrictions on Belarusian athletes in international competition.
Restrictions were first imposed in February 2022 and updated in March 2023 ; athletes had competed as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) .
The 'Fit for the Future' initiative by IOC President Kirsty Coventry (September 2025) forms the policy basis.
The Russian Olympic Committee remains suspended — Russia and Belarus are treated differently.
Qualification for LA 2028 begins this summer, making the timing directly consequential.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday, 7 May 2025, recommended that all restrictions on Belarusian athletes competing in international events be fully lifted, ending a regime of conditions first introduced in February 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The announcement, made from Bern, marks a significant shift in the IOC's post-war sporting policy toward Belarus.
What the IOC Executive Board Decided
The IOC Executive Board stated it no longer recommends any conditions on Belarusian athletes — including teams — competing in events governed by International Federations and international sports event organisers. The lifted measures include the protective restrictions first introduced in February 2022 and later updated on 28 March 2023.
Since the 2023 recommendations were issued, athletes holding Belarusian passports had been competing as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) in numerous international events, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Rationale Behind the Decision
The IOC cited the need to navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, including a rising number of global conflicts, and to uphold its mission of preserving a values-based sporting platform. The decision aligns with the
Point of View
Yet the IOC treats the two differently based on National Olympic Committee compliance — a technocratic distinction unlikely to satisfy Ukraine or human rights groups. The 'athletes should not be punished for their governments' actions' principle is coherent in isolation, but risks reading as institutional convenience when selectively applied. The real pressure test comes when LA 2028 qualification heats up.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the IOC lift restrictions on Belarusian athletes?
The IOC lifted restrictions citing the need to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape and uphold athletes' right to compete free from political interference. The decision is anchored in the 'Fit for the Future' initiative launched by IOC President Kirsty Coventry in September 2025.
When were restrictions on Belarusian athletes first imposed?
Restrictions were first introduced in February 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and updated in March 2023. Since then, Belarusian athletes competed as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) at events including the Paris 2024 Olympics and Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Is Russia also having its restrictions lifted?
No. The Russian Olympic Committee remains suspended while the IOC Legal Affairs Commission continues its review. The IOC explicitly stated Russia's situation differs from Belarus, which is in good standing under the Olympic Charter.
How does this affect the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics?
With restrictions lifted, Belarusian athletes can now qualify and compete as full national team members at LA 2028. The qualification window opens this summer, making Thursday's decision directly consequential.
What is the IOC's 'Fit for the Future' initiative?
It is an IOC reform process launched by President Kirsty Coventry in September 2025 that reaffirmed athletes' fundamental right to access sport and compete free from political interference, forming the policy basis for the Belarus reinstatement.
