• Russian teams, including ice hockey, remain banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
• The ban is part of ongoing sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• Some individual Russian athletes may compete as neutral athletes.
• The IOC's decision follows a recommendation from March 2023.
• International Ice Hockey Federation confirms it will comply with the IOC's ruling.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reaffirmed that Russian teams, particularly its renowned national ice hockey side, will remain barred from competing in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. This decision stems from sanctions imposed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a policy that was reiterated in March 2023. The IOC stated, "the Executive Board recommendation... remains in place," emphasizing that individual neutral athletes cannot be considered a team. The IOC noted that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is prepared to follow these recommendations, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

Despite the ban on teams, a small number of individual Russian and Belarusian athletes have been cleared to participate in elite events such as the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, representing themselves under a neutral flag. The IOC has allowed this arrangement as long as the athletes undergo rigorous vetting, according to The Hill. The ongoing prohibition against Russian teams underscores the complex dynamics of sporting governance amid geopolitical tensions.

Russian figure skaters have recently received approval from the International Skating Union to compete as neutral athletes for the 2026 Winter Olympics, while the IOC continues to monitor the situation closely. The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023 for recognizing regional Olympic councils from Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine, marking a significant turning point in the relationship between the IOC and Russian sporting authorities, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The IOC's stance has been bolstered by feedback from international federations and other stakeholders involved in the Olympic Movement, ensuring that these measures align with an overarching commitment to uphold the Olympic Charter. The Winter Olympics in Italy are scheduled to occur from February 6-22, 2026, as the global sporting community awaits further developments on this contentious issue, according to The Hill.