Russian athletes may soon compete for their country at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally lifted the suspension imposed in 2023 due to the war in Ukraine.

The IOC stated that the previous ban is now deemed "no longer applicable," permitting athletes from Russia to participate provided they adhere to relevant anti-doping requirements. However, no final decision has been made regarding the display of Russia's flag, colors, and anthem during the Games.

Key points include:

• The IOC will continue to refrain from organizing events in Russia or inviting Russian government officials.
• Some Russian athletes competed as neutrals in both the 2024 Paris Games and this year’s Winter Olympics in Milan, where only 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus participated and secured a total of five medals.
• In contrast, the Russian team boasted over 300 athletes at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, achieving 71 medals.

Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev welcomed the IOC's decision, emphasizing the need for the Games to be "free from politics." He indicated that Russia intends to take part in the qualifiers for the 2028 Olympics.

While the IOC continues to "strongly condemn" the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it asserts that athletes' participation in international competitions should not be hindered by their government's actions in conflicts.