Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to provisionally reinstate the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), arguing that the reasons behind Russia’s suspension remain unresolved.
The reasons for the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee have not been eliminated, and therefore the decision to restore its rights is premature and unfounded.
Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee announcing its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The IOC lifted the ROC’s suspension on July 7 after concluding that the Russian body had removed sports organizations from occupied Ukrainian territories from its membership, potentially paving the way for Russia’s full participation at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Ukraine said the reinstatement was premature, maintaining that Russia has not fully addressed the violations that led to its suspension in October 2023. The Ukrainian Olympic body also cited a 2024 CAS ruling that upheld the IOC’s original decision to suspend the ROC four breaching the Olympic Charter by incorporating sports organizations from occupied Ukrainian regions.
The appeal argues that restoring the ROC’s rights without resolving those issues undermines international sports law and sets a dangerous precedent for the Olympic movement.
Russia welcomed the IOC’s decision, with Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev saying it marked another step toward the country’s full return to international sport.
This is another step towards Russia’s full return to the Olympic family
Mikhail Degtyarev
Russian athletes competed as neutrals at the Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, while the IOC has yet to decide whether Russia’s flag and anthem will be permitted at the 2028 Games.
