The IOC has announced the withdrawal of the Olympic Order, its highest award, from all high-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin.
In a statement on Tuesday, the IOC stated that its executive board ‘recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions’.
If not possible for ‘organisational or legal reasons’, the IOC said while calling on sports officials to do ‘everything in their power’ to prevent athletes from the two countries from taking part under the name of Russia or Belarus.
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It is a matter of particular urgency in relation to the Paralympic Winter Games, which begin Friday in Beijing.
Russia’s participation in the World Cup play-offs next month is also in doubt after FIFA plans to allow them to play on neutral territory were dismissed as “unacceptable” by rivals.
The IOC last week urged all international sports federations to cancel forthcoming events in Russia, angry at Moscow violating an ‘Olympic Truce’ with its attack on Ukraine.
The organisation went on to praise the ‘many calls for peace by athletes, sports officials and members of the worldwide Olympic Community’.
‘The IOC admires and supports in particular the calls for peace by Russian athletes,’ it added.
In a related development, Africa Today News, New York cam confirm that UEFA is set to suspend Russian teams from all competitions in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
The first Russian team affected would be Spartak Moscow, who face RB Leipzig away in a Europa League last 16, first-leg tie on March 10.
The Russian women’s national team would also be excluded from the European Championship due to be hosted by England this July.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK