The International Olympic Committee may reportedly ban Russian athletes from competing in team sports at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The IOC have previously said they're "exploring a pathway" for athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part. Last month, the IOC opened up the possibility of athletes from the nations participating under a neutral flag in Paris - despite widespread criticism and boycott threats.
And according to the MailOnline, one of the options on the table is preventing Russia from participating in team sports such as football, handball and volleyball, which would effectively deny them the opportunity to participate in Olympic qualifiers. This would be a devastating blow to Russia, whose neutral women's gymnastics team took gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the women’s volleyball team claimed silver at the last Games.
The IOC are also reportedly weighing up whether to ban Russian athletes who have been found guilty of 'war crimes', and those from the country that have shown their support of Vladimir Putin's the invasion of Ukraine and have military links. However, a United Nations expert has reportedly advised the organisation that any members of the Russian army should not be excluded from the Games.
The IOC could face significant backlash should they choose to follow this, as Ukraine and other nations remain strongly opposed to the fact the committee is considering having Russia play some part at the next Olympics. Ukraine's Youth and Sport Minister Vadym Gutzeit said in order for that to take place, there must be 'serious criteria' to validate the neutrality of any athlete, before accusing the IOC of having 'double standards'.
"What's changed? Nothing has changed," he said. "At first the IOC banned them, and now they are trying to allow them to compete. There are certain double standards. They can't just say 'we are for peace' and that's it," said Gutzeit. "If the criteria are very weak, then why was Russia suspended last year?
"The situation has only deteriorated. More Ukrainians are being killed and more Ukrainian territory is being occupied. There are air-raid alerts every day and our cities are being bombed and our people are being killed.
"We do not understand at all what was the reason for the IOC to start discussion about the lifting of the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes." The IOC explained their decision by saying the Olympics "cannot prevent wars and conflicts" but the Games could "inspire us to solve problems by building bridges".
But Gutzeit hit back: "We have no life in Ukraine, we have no conditions for normal training and preparations for the Olympic Games," he added.
"At the same time, the Russians have all the conditions to practise and compete domestically. They sleep at night, and we don't."
