Why Is Russia Not in the Olympics? Ban Explained

As the 2024 Paris Olympics commences, many viewers were quick to notice that Russia is missing from the Games. Even during the opening ceremony, Russian flags were missing from the Parade of Nations. This notable absence has raised questions about why Russia is not officially represented at these Games.

Here is everything to know about why Russia is not in the Paris Olympics 2024.

Why is Russia not in the Paris Olympics 2024?

Due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) has been barred from the 2024 Paris Olympics. The conflict, which began shortly after the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, has led to a comprehensive ban on both Russia and Belarus from participating in the upcoming Games.

Despite this ban, Russian athletes will still have a presence at the Paris Olympics. They will compete under the designation “Individual Neutral Athlete” (INA). This status allows athletes to participate without representing their home country. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) established specific criteria in March 2023 for athletes to qualify as INAs. These criteria include not actively supporting the war in Ukraine and not being affiliated with Russian military or national security agencies. Athletes must pass vetting by their international sports federations and the IOC’s Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel (AINERP) to ensure compliance.

Only athletes competing in individual events are allowed to participate; team sports, such as the men’s 4x100m relay, are excluded. In addition to meeting anti-doping requirements, athletes in high-performance or technical roles are considered for support personnel accreditation. Russian government officials and state representatives are also prohibited from attending the Games.

Stanislav Pozdnyakov, head of the ROC, has criticized the participation of Russian athletes as “foreign agents.” This follows previous restrictions on Russian athletes due to state-sponsored doping. It impacted the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2018 Winter Olympics, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.