International Paralympic Committee Lifts Partial Suspensions of Russia and Belarus

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced on Saturday that it has lifted the partial suspension imposed on Russia and Belarus following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The ruling was made during the IPC’s General Assembly in Seoul and marks a significant shift in the participation status of athletes from both countries.

With the decision, Russian and Belarusian athletes will now be allowed to compete under their national flags at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled for 2026.

However, the implementation remains complex, as six Paralympic sports currently governed by international federations continue to uphold bans against athletes from the two countries.

To participate, athletes must secure active licences for the 2025/26 season from their respective international federations.

Timeline of IPC Actions

• 2022: Russia and Belarus excluded from the Beijing Winter Paralympics.
• 2023: IPC General Assembly voted to permit their athletes at Paris 2024, but only under a neutral flag and with strict neutrality conditions.
• September 2025: IPC lifts partial suspension, potentially restoring full competitive status pending federation decisions.

The IPC’s ruling comes eight days after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) authorised Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games — albeit under a neutral flag and within strict neutrality frameworks.

While the IPC has gone a step further by reinstating the right to compete under national banners, the final hurdle remains with international federations, which still enforce suspensions in key winter sports.

The decision highlights the divergence in policy between governing bodies, reflecting both the political sensitivities of the Ukraine war and the continuing debate over neutrality, fairness, and inclusivity in international sport.