Olympics Committee Begins Approving Russian Athletes Despite Ban Due To Ukraine Invasion

The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has released a preliminary list of Russian and Belarusian athletes that have been approved to participate in next month's Paris Summer Olympics.

14 Russians and 11 Belarusians were granted "neutral status" by the IOC across five sports, including cycling, gymnastics, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling and swimming. More athletes are expected to be granted permission in the upcoming days for other Olympic sports. One of the newly approved names includes Ivan Litvinovich of Belarus, who is the defending Olympic champion in the men's trampoline. Yuliya Efimova became the first Russian swimmer approved as well. 

Typically, Olympic athletes are banned due to cheating or using performance enhancing drugs or steroids. However, the countries of Russia and Belarus were issued team sports bans after the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine (It's already been nearly 2 and a half years by the way since then?!) 

U.S.A's Simone Biles will look to continue her winning ways at the Paris Olympics next month.  (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

GIVING INTO THE RUSSIANS?

Ukraine and other countries have urged the IOC to issue a blanket ban on all individual Russian athletes, but so far the only sport to do that has been track and field. Instead, Russians and Belarusians were able to participate as neutrals in qualifying events, with each athlete then submitting a request to be approved for the Paris Olympics. Multiple governing bodies must approve an athlete before the IOC will then ultimately decide one's fate.

In response to the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, much of the world began issuing sanctions on the Russians, trying to hurt them anyway they can. These were done in financial and trade (import/export) ways, as well as in various sports. The International Boxing Association, for example, banned all Russians from boxing while the WBC removed all Russians and Belarusians from their rankings. However, the IBA has since removed that ban - similar to what the Olympic Committee is doing now with individual athletes. 

The Olympic torch continues to make its' way across Europe.  (Photo by JEROME BROUILLET / AFP) (Photo by JEROME BROUILLET/AFP via Getty Images)

RUSSIAN AND BELARUSIAN ATHLETES GRANTED "NEUTRAL STATUS"

It's unclear exactly why some sanctions have started to be pulled back against Russia, despite the fact the war is still going on. Some financial analysts have argued that the sanctions against Russia aren't really working against or hurting Vladimir Putin, but rather the average Russian citizen. China has more than doubled trade with Russia since the Ukraine invasion began, with Iran and other countries also increasing their business dealings with Putin.

As far as what this means for viewers tuning into the Olympics, one thing you'll notice is that there won't be any Russian or Belarusian flags throughout the entire Paris games. Instead, the "neutral status" designation means that the approved athletes will be participating under the Olympic ring flag and referred to as "Olympic Athletes from Russia."

The Paris Olympics begin on Friday, July 26th.