IOC: Too early to speak about admitting Russians to 2024 Summer Olympics in any status

MOSCOW. Feb 2 (Interfax) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not yet discussed the possible admission of Russian or Belarusian athletes to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the IOC said in a statement.

"No decision has been taken on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The topic under discussion is about their participation in international competitions in Asia in the forthcoming summer sport season. In none of the documents published by the IOC will you find a reference to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 for athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport," the IOC said.

The IOC said it would work to make sure that the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024 and the Winter Olympics 2026 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo see "a strong team from the NOC of Ukraine."

Russian and Belarusian athletes might be admitted to the Olympics as neutral and individual athletes, without any association with their national flag, anthem, or colors and provided they fully comply with anti-doping rules, it said.

"Currently, an exploration of a primary concept for conditions of participation is underway. No decision has been taken," the IOC said.

The IOC is in consultations with international sports federations now, it said.

"Further details and a timeline can be defined only after these consultations have taken place," it said.

The IOC recommended in February 2022 that international sports federations suspend Russian and Belarusian athletes from competition over the situation in Ukraine. Most of the federations have followed the IOC's recommendations.