Ukrainian athletes have signed a letter calling for the banning of all Russian and Belarusian athletes from international sport.
When Russia invaded Ukraine last week, one part of the military forces crossed Ukraine's northern border with Belarus, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to describe them as "complicit in this offensive" and set to face European Union sanctions.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged international sports federations to either move or cancel events planned in Russia or Belarus.
But athletes from Ukraine are calling for Russians and Belarusians to be barred from competing around the globe entirely, in a letter to the IOC and International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
"Any suspension [of the nations' Olympic committees] must also include the banning of all athletes from international sport, including the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games," the letter reads, referring to the Winter Paralympics that start on March 4.
"Russia's invasion of Ukraine, supported by Belarus, is a clear breach of the Olympic and Paralympic charters — a breach that must be met with strong sanctions.
"If the IOC and IPC refuse to take swift action you are clearly emboldening both Russia and Belarus['s] violation of international law and your own charters.
"Your lack of action will send a message to every athlete and the world that you have chosen Russia and Belarus interests over athlete interests. Your legacy will be defined by your actions.
The letter was signed by various athletes saying they represented all Ukrainians in their respective sports, and endorsed by governing bodies like Ukraine's Biathlon federation.
In a separate letter, the Ukrainian Tennis Federation urged the International Tennis Federation to immediately expel Russia and Belarus.
In a letter seen by the Reuters news agency, the Ukrainian federation said the action was warranted given Russia and Belarus's "unprecedented, cynical and bloody" attacks on Ukraine over the past four days.
FIFA falls short of blanket ban for Russia
It comes as football's governing body announced no international matches will be played in Russia and the country's flag and anthem will be banned from matches abroad.
FIFA said Russia's national teams would not compete as Russia but as the Football Union of Russia (RFU), and any games would be held with no fans and on "neutral territory".
But these proposals fall short of the outright bans that many fans, clubs, players and federations have been calling for given Russia's use of football as a tool of soft power over the past two decades.
Last week, a number of national federations announced they would refuse to face Russian teams in protest against the invasion.
The Czech Republic, Poland and Sweden have reiterated their stance overnight that their national teams would not contest World Cup qualifiers against Russia next month, regardless of location, while England's Football Association said its national team would not play any matches against Russia "for the foreseeable future".
These federation's moves have been publicly backed by players, many of whom have taken to social media to criticise Russia's invasion.
"FIFA will continue its ongoing dialogue with the IOC, UEFA and other sport organisations to determine any additional measures or sanctions, including a potential exclusion from competitions, that shall be applied in the near future should the situation not be improving rapidly," the statement read.
"The Bureau of the FIFA Council remains on stand-by to take any of these decisions."
FIFA said it would try to find a solution with the three countries — Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic — involved in the World Cup qualifiers for November's 2022 men's World Cup in Qatar.
"FIFA will remain in close contact to seek to find appropriate and acceptable solutions together," it said.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has also come under fire for his close personal ties with Mr Putin, including receiving an Order of Friendship medal after Russia hosted the 2018 men's World Cup.
"You welcomed the world as friends and those bonds of friendship will never be broken," Mr Infantino said at the time.
"This is not the end; it is only the beginning of our fruitful cooperation and interaction."
Swimming, chess abandon Russia
Swimming Australia said on Monday it supported a decision by FINA to cancel August's World Junior Championships, and would not send any Australian teams to future events currently scheduled in Russia.
Chief executive Eugenie Buckley said the decision was made "based on safety reasons first and foremost", but the SA statement also said it acknowledged "the role the that sports must play within the international landscape".
"Swimming Australia strongly condemns the actions of the Russian Government and is appalled by the developments in Ukraine," the statement read.
Meanwhile, chess' international governing body FIDE said it would be removing all events from Russia and cancelling sponsorship deals with any Russian companies.
Chess is a particularly beloved game in Russia, and this year's Olympiad was due to be held in Moscow.
Reuters/ABC
