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World Athletics Rejects IOC Call to Lift Belarus Ban

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • World Athletics has rejected the International Olympic Committee's recommendation to lift the ban on Belarusian athletes and teams.
  • The IOC had urged federations to allow Belarus to return to international competition, citing neutral athletes' participation without incident.
  • World Athletics maintains its sanctions, implemented in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, will remain until tangible progress towards peace negotiations is made.

The World Athletics Council has firmly stood its ground against the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) recent recommendation to reinstate Belarusian athletes and teams. This decision, while perhaps disappointing to some, underscores World Athletics' commitment to a principled stance in the face of ongoing geopolitical conflict.

As a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, World Athletics sanctions implemented in March 2022 excluding Belarusian and Russian athletes, officials and supporting personnel from competition remain in place.

— World Athletics spokespersonExplaining the continued ban on Belarusian athletes.

While the IOC pointed to the successful participation of Belarusian athletes as individual neutral athletes (AINs) in various international events, including the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, World Athletics has made it clear that the situation in Ukraine remains a critical factor. The invasion, which saw Belarus act as a close ally and facilitator for Russia, necessitates a continued suspension.

Our council has made a clear decision that when there is tangible movement towards peace negotiations it can begin to review its decisions.

— World Athletics spokespersonStating the condition for reviewing the sanctions.

This divergence in approach highlights a broader tension within the international sports community. While the IOC appears to prioritize inclusivity and the participation of athletes regardless of their nation's political actions, World Athletics has opted for a more stringent policy, linking the lifting of sanctions directly to progress in peace negotiations. This stance, though potentially isolating, reflects a belief that sport should not operate in a vacuum, separate from the realities of international conflict and aggression.

We all hope this will be soon, but until that happens the council continues to be united in standing behind the decision it made in March 2022 and revisited in 2023 and 2025.

— World Athletics spokespersonEmphasizing the council's unified stance on the sanctions.

From our perspective, the decision by World Athletics is a necessary one. It sends a clear message that complicity in aggression will not be overlooked and that the pursuit of peace must be a prerequisite for full reintegration into the global sporting arena. The council's unity on this matter is commendable, demonstrating a resolve to uphold the values of justice and responsibility in international sports.

Our council has made a clear decision that when there is tangible movement towards peace negotiations it can begin to review its decisions.

— World Athletics spokespersonStating the condition for reviewing the sanctions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ghanaian Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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