IOC no longer recommends restrictions surrounding Belarusian athletes
A notable change in international sporting policy that could affect things on the ice.
On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) formally announced that Belarusian athletes are no longer restricted from competing in events governed by international federations.
The decision comes more than four years after the IOC and other federations banned both Russia and Belarus from competing in major international events, including the Summer and Winter Olympics, as well as all International Ice Hockey Federation tournaments. The ban was put in place after Russia, with Belarusian support, invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
According to a release, the IOC made its decision on Belarusian competitors based on the reaffirmation, “that athletes’ participation in international competition should not be limited by the actions of their governments, including involvement in a war or conflict.”
As it stands, Russian athletes are still banned by the IOC, though individual competitors have been allowed to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes. According to the IOC, the situation between Russia and Belarus is separate. The National Olympic Committee of Belarus has been in “good standing” with the IOC and the Olympic Charter in recent history, while the Russian Olympic Committee, which has had its share of issues with the IOC, has led to athletes competing under the banner of Olympic Athletes of Russia and the ROC in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games.
While the ban on Belarusian athletes has been lifted, the IIHF has yet to reverse its decision on Belarusian teams (and Russian teams) competing in its sanctioned events. Belarus, which would be ranked 15th in the world according to the IIHF men’s rankings, hasn’t competed in a IIHF tournament since the 2021 men’s world championship.
Russia, playing as the ROC, had its men’s and women’s teams compete in Beijing four years ago, with the men taking home the silver medal. Per the IIHF points system, Russia would be at the top of the men’s standings, while the women would be ranked sixth.