Olympic Games bosses have been accused of endorsing Russia's war in Ukraine after a proposal was launched to clear the way for athletes to qualify for Paris 2024.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had a board meeting this week when it decided to "explore a pathway" for athletes from both countries to compete at next year's Games. The IOC also announced a proposal for athletes from Russia and Belarus to enter Olympic qualification events in Asia rather than Europe. This is under the proviso that athletes compete under a neutral flag and have not actively supported the war.
The IOC statement said that "no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport".
