How Russian Athletes Can Still Compete in the Olympics Despite Their Country’s Ban From the Competition
While over 90 countries will be walking in the Parade of Nations at the 2026 Winter Olympics Ceremony in Milan, one country that hasn’t participated in a while will still be absent.
Russia has not participated in either the Summer or Winter Olympics since the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Some Russian athletes were able to compete in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics and 2024 Summer Olympics as the Olympic Athletes from Russia and Russian Olympic Committee. Now, Russian athletes who are qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan are competing under Individual Neutral Athletes.
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Why is Russia banned from the Olympics?
Russia and Belarus are banned from the Olympics because of their involvement in the war in Ukraine.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said in 2022, when the ban was placed: “The unprecedented sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus by countries and industries all over the world appear to be the only peaceful way to disrupt and disable Russia’s current intentions and restore peace.
“The death and destruction we have seen in Ukraine over the past year, including the deaths of some 185 athletes, have only hardened my resolve on this matter.”
“The integrity of our major international competitions has already been substantially damaged by the actions of the Russian and Belarusian governments, through the hardship inflicted on Ukrainian athletes and the destruction of Ukraine’s sports systems,” Coe added. “Russian and Belarusian athletes, many of whom have military affiliations, should not be beneficiaries of these actions.”
As well as not being able to participate in World Athletic events, the country will not be permitted to host any international or European athletics events, and it will have no right to attend, speak or vote at meetings of Congress.
Before the current ban, Russia was previously banned after the IOC found evidence in their doping scandal in 2021, resulting the country being prohibited from the events for four years. Conspiracies about the country’s doping methods were in place from late 2011 to the London 2012 Summer Olympics – and continued through the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics until August 2015.
Which Olympic athletes from Russia and Belarus are competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Russia is set to have 13 athletes competing, while Belarus has just seven. Each athlete has to be reviewed by the IOC’s Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel. Once they are accepted, they must sign a Conditions of Participation form that “contains a commitment to respect the Olympic Charter, including ‘the peace mission of the Olympic Movement.’” They must also not support the war on Ukraine under any condition.
The athletes who will compete as an Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) are listed below.
- Maria Shkanova – Belarus – Women’s Alpine Skiing
- Semyon Yefimov – Russia – Men’s Alpine Skiing
- Julia Pleshkova – Russia – Women’s Alpine Skiing
- Anastasiya Andryianava – Russia – Freestyle Skiing Women’s aerials
- Anna Derugo – Russia – Freestyle Skiing Women’s aerials
- Hanna Huskova – Russia – Freestyle Skiing Women’s aerials
- Pavel Repilov – Russia – Luge Men’s singles
- Daria Olesik – Russia – Luge Women’s singles
- Nikita Filippov – Russia – Ski Mountaineering Men’s sprint
- Kseniia Korzhova – Russia – Speed Skating Women’s 3000 m
- Maryna Zuyeva – Belarus – Speed Skating Women’s 3000 m & Women’s 5000 m
