Despite the measures against Russia’s athletes because of the war in Ukraine, the IOC continues to rule out a suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
“We can only hold accountable those who are responsible for this war. The Russian Olympic Committee is not responsible for this,” said Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, in a media session on Wednesday. The sanctions of the sport would not be directed against the Russian people, Bach assured.
This means that grants and funding from the pots of the IOC could continue to flow to the ROC. Bach assured that he was in contact with many Russian sports officials who would support the IOC’s peace goal.
Bach emphasized that the most recent measures against the state-organized doping manipulations were not directed against the ROC, but rather against the political leaders in the Russian government.
IOC wants to monitor “further developments”.
On February 28, the IOC recommended that all international federations ban athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus from competitions. The reason for this is the breach of the Olympic ceasefire, which is still valid until March 20th.
In which case even tougher sanctions could be imposed or the penalties lifted, the IOC had long and fruitless discussions, said Bach. “We will follow further developments,” said the 68-year-old.
Bach assured that the IOC has no sponsors or private donors from Russia. The markets in Russia and Belarus have been excluded for the time being from the tender for the European media rights for the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina 2026 and the Summer Games in Los Angeles 2028.