World Athletics Stands Firm on Belarus Ban Despite IOC Push for Reinstatement

World Athletics has announced it will maintain its ban on Belarusian athletes, directly opposing a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reinstate them for international competition under their national flag.

The IOC's executive board had urged sports federations on Thursday to lift the suspension on Belarus while keeping restrictions on Russia in place.

Both nations were banned from most international sports following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in which Belarus is a key ally. A partial lifting of the ban in 2023 allowed some athletes to compete as neutrals.

In its recommendation, the IOC stated that the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus "is in good standing and complies with the Olympic Charter," unlike its Russian counterpart.

The IOC noted that since 2023, Belarusian athletes have competed as neutrals in numerous events, including qualifiers for the Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, "without any incident."

The committee also reaffirmed its position that "athletes' participation in international competition should not be limited by the actions of their governments."

However, World Athletics swiftly rebuffed the proposal. A spokesperson for the governing body told BBC Sport, "As a consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, World Athletics sanctions implemented in March 2022, excluding Belarusian and Russian athletes, officials and supporting personnel from competition, remain in place."

The spokesperson added that the organisation's council would only reconsider its stance "when there is tangible movement towards peace negotiations."

The disagreement comes at a critical time, with qualification periods for the LA28 Olympic Games and the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games set to begin this summer.

Ukraine's National Olympic Committee expressed its disagreement with the IOC's recommendation, calling it a contradiction of "the fundamental principles of justice, responsibility and Olympic values."

In a forceful statement, the Ukrainian NOC highlighted Belarus's ongoing role in the conflict. "This decision was made at a time when Belarus continues to support the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and remains an accomplice in the war," it said. "The territory of Belarus is used to launch missiles and strike drones at Ukrainian cities."

Vadym Gutzeit, president of the Ukrainian NOC, warned that the IOC's move sets a "dangerous precedent." He argued, "Today, the world has received a signal that a country that supports military aggression... can return to the international arena without being held accountable for its actions."

While the IOC has moved to soften its stance on Belarus, it confirmed that the Russian Olympic Committee remains suspended.

The decision is partly influenced by ongoing concerns about the country's anti-doping system, with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently sanctioning over 300 Russian athletes based on data from a Moscow laboratory.

The IOC's position on Russia and Belarus contrasts with that of other major sports bodies. The International Paralympic Committee lifted its ban on both nations for the Winter Paralympics, and World Aquatics has also allowed their athletes to compete under national flags.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has also hinted at a potential return for Russia, a suggestion Ukraine's sports minister labelled "irresponsible."