Russia will not be able to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected its appeal against the suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in October 2023 for violating the Olympic charter by recognising four sports bodies representing regions of eastern Ukraine that were illegally annexed by Russia since 2022.
The ROC appealed the decision, arguing that it was unfair and politically motivated, but the CAS dismissed the appeal on Friday, saying that the IOC had acted within its rights and responsibilities.
The CAS ruling means that Russian athletes will not be able to participate in the Paris Olympics under their own flag and anthem, unless they can prove that they are not involved in the conflict or the doping scandal that has plagued Russian sport for years.
The CAS decision is the latest blow for Russian sport, which has been mired in controversy and scandal for years. In 2016, the IOC banned Russia from the Rio Olympics after a report revealed a state-sponsored doping program that involved hundreds of athletes across various sports. In 2018, the IOC allowed some Russian athletes to compete as neutrals at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, but under strict conditions and scrutiny.
Also in 2020, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Russia from all major international events, including the Tokyo Olympics and the Beijing Winter Olympics, for four years, after finding evidence of data manipulation and cover-ups. The ROC is also appealing this ban at the CAS, and a verdict is expected later this year.
The Paris Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024. The IOC has said that it will work with the relevant international federations and the Paris Organising Committee to ensure a fair and transparent qualification process for all athletes, regardless of their nationality or status.
