Sports bodies ask IOC to allow Russians as neutrals for 2024 Olympics / Photo: FRANCK FIFE - AFP/File
-
Ukrainian fashion designer debuts art between air raids
-
Counterculture pop artist Peter Max dies at 88: US media
-
Gambian businesses struggle under prolonged blackouts
-
Asian Games chief defends 'functional' rooms after backlash
-
Fiji declares national HIV crisis
-
Leader's sister says only 'idiots' think N. Korea to give up nukes
-
Australia to cut migration to fix housing crisis: minister
-
World's water cycle becoming more unpredictable, UN warns
-
NASA scan discovers new, 'once in a century' Moon crater
-
Where the US-China tariff row stands ahead of White House summit
-
Most stocks rise as Fed hikes and indicates drive to curb inflation
-
Croc-habitat gets green light for 2032 Olympic rowing
-
US again denies Palestinian leader Abbas visa to attend UN assembly
-
Indonesia cash-for-photos scheme turns animal hunters into protectors
-
Lula says he will go to UN to tell Trump to 'stay out' of Brazil's elections
-
'Left-field' life: Briton becomes Thailand's top foreign monk
-
Messi heads Inter Miami to Campeones Cup triumph
-
India's transgender amendment leaves many in limbo
-
AI looms large ahead of Xi, Trump summit
-
Trump to host Xi amid pomp, low expectations
-
Smith still haunted by 'Sandpapergate' as he prepares for South Africa Tests
-
Harry set for UK public outings with security, royal status hazy
-
UK-Sudanese author pens book to give children 'African history of Africa'
-
NFL Chiefs' Kelce among investors bilked in Ponzi scheme
-
Boehly and Walter sell Chelsea stake to Clearlake Capital
-
Trump threatens EU over 'hostile' Canada association plan
-
US House backs data center power cost bill amid midterm backlash
-
Argentine judge orders suspension of Falklands oil project
-
US Congress passes sweeping Russia sanctions bill
-
Carrick takes the blame as troubled Man Utd suffer League Cup misery
-
Barca hit Racing for seven as Atletico crush Osasuna
-
Barcelona hit seven in Racing Santander rout
-
US Fed raises rates to tackle 'too high' inflation, irking Trump
-
Amorim's Milan beaten by Benfica, Sunderland make dream European return
-
Man Utd misery mounts after League Cup collapse against Brighton
-
US stocks fall, dollar gains after Fed lifts interest rates
-
Turkey releases 106 protesters, jails more LGBTQ activists
-
Seahawks rule out Darnold for Sunday game at Arizona
-
US Fed raises rates to tackle 'too high' inflation in move sure to rile Trump
-
Mbappe explains Ceuta shirt stance after criticism
-
England were 'waiting for death' in World Cup semi-final defeat: Tuchel
-
Improving Atletico cruise to comfortable win over Osasuna
-
NFL star fined for displaying name of slain Palestinian girl
-
Candidate for UN chief calls for AI regulation akin to nuclear weapons
-
Witsel retires from internationals after 18-year Belgium career
-
O'Neill expects Celtic recovery after Old Firm misery
-
US Fed raises rates to battle inflation in move likely to rile Trump
-
Man City midfield trio backed to emulate Rodri and Silva
-
Fitzpatrick 'not comfortable' over Dubai golf finale
-
'We're losing control,' AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio tells AFP
Sports bodies ask IOC to allow Russians as neutrals for 2024 Olympics
Representatives of international sports federations and national Olympic committees on Tuesday called for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be admitted under a neutral flag for the 2024 Games in Paris "as soon as possible".
During the Olympic summit in Lausanne, athlete representatives also asked for "clarity" on the issue, according to a statement published after the meeting.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) still has to make a final ruling on whether athletes from Russia and Belarus, a key ally for Moscow in its offensive on Ukraine, will be permitted to compete next summer.
The IOC has repeated its stance that a decision will be taken "at the appropriate time".
Athletes from the two countries have faced sanctions from a multitude of sports since Russia launched its assault on Ukraine in February of 2022.
However, over the past year a number of Olympic sports have eased restrictions, allowing them to return to competition under certain conditions.
In March, the IOC lifted an outright ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, allowing them to compete as neutral athletes provided they did not support the Ukraine conflict and had no ties to the military.
The IOC on Tuesday "confirmed that the participation of such AINs (individual neutral athletes) in the Olympic Games could happen only under the existing strict conditions".
"Neither the qualification system developed by the respective International Federations nor the number of allocated quota places to a sport will be changed for AINs with a Russian or Belarusian passport," it added.
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on October 12 for violating the territorial integrity of the membership of Ukraine by recognising illegally annexed territories.
ROC has recognised regional organisations from four Ukrainian territories annexed since Russia's invasion began in 2022.
Russia's Olympic body last month launched an appeal against its suspension by the IOC at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In September, officials voted to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at next year's Paralympics under a neutral flag after deciding against an outright ban.
C.Cassis--PC