Russian athletes have been competing at the Olympics as the “Russian Olympic Committee”.

Russian athletes have been competing at the Olympics as the “Russian Olympic Committee”.Credit:AP

In a lengthy statement after a meeting of its executive board,the IOC said it was with a “heavy heart” that it called for a ban on all athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus.

“In order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants,the IOC executive board recommends that international sports federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions,” the IOC said.

The IOC will also strip the honour of the Olympic Order from Russian president Vladimir Putin in the wake of his nation’s invasion of Ukraine. It is the movement’s highest honour,awarded to Putin in 2001,and will go in some way to repair the reputational damage to the IOC,which has long stood accused of cosying up to despots and nations with poor records on human rights.

There was some wiggle room,however,with the IOC leaving it up to organisers of events in the very near future to make their own call on Russian athletes. That caveat was adopted for the impending Winter Paralympics,where Russian athletes are likely to feature under a neutral flag.

Russians are likely to compete in the upcoming Paralympics under the neutral flag.

Russians are likely to compete in the upcoming Paralympics under the neutral flag.Credit:AP

“Wherever this is not possible on short notice for organisational or legal reasons,the IOC[executive board] strongly urges international sports federations and organisers of sports events worldwide to do everything in their power to ensure that … Russian or Belarusian nationals,be it as individuals or teams,should be accepted only as neutral athletes or neutral teams. No national symbols,colours,flags or anthems should be displayed.”

It’s a historic move from the IOC but is unlikely to satisfy all of its critics,with the executive board stopping short of banning the Olympic committees from Russia and Belarus. Russia was already on thin ice given its record on doping at the Sochi Games in 2014 and extending to thedrama surrounding teenage ice skater Kamila Valieva in Beijing.

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FIFA’s move will ensure Russia is booted from World Cup qualifying matches,starting with the qualifier against Poland on March 24. Poland and its next potential next opponents,Sweden and the Czech Republic,had already said they would boycott any such fixtures.

World Rugby followed suit by announcing on Tuesday it had suspended Russia’s membership status,and immediate suspensions of Russia and Belarus from “all international rugby and cross-border club rugby activities until further notice.” Belarus is not a full member of World Rugby.

“World Rugby reiterates its condemnation of Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine and the facilitation of this action by Belarus,” the body said in a statement.

“The global rugby family is united in standing in solidarity with everyone affected by these deeply disturbing events and joins the global community in calling for the restoration of peace.”

Russian national rugby teams play in the Rugby European Championships (a tier below the Six Nations) and the suspension ends any chance of Russia’s men’s team qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Russian teams also play on the World Seven Series.

The push to make Russian athletes pariahs has gained speed at a rapid pace,extending to individual events such as tennis. Ukrainian world No.15 Elina Svitolina said she would refuse to play against anyone from Russia or Belarus until the WTA,ATP and the International Tennis Federation accept them only as neutral athletes.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018.Credit:AP

“My people,every day I fear for you,” she said on Instagram. “I am devastated. My eyes won’t stop crying,my heart won’t stop bleeding. But I am so proud. I commit to redistribute the prizemoney of my next tournaments to support army and humanitarian needs to help them defend you. My heroes.”

Others went further. Ukrainian Tennis Federation board member Seva Kevlych told Reuters that world No.1 Daniil Medvedev,the Australian Open finalist,and other Russian players should be barred from grand slam tournaments and the Russian Tennis Federation barred from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup team events,of which they are the reigning champions.

“Let[Medvedev] play on the ATP Tour but grand slams are ITF events and if you lose the possibility to play in grand slams he could never be world No.1,” Kevlych said. “He shouldn’t play in the French Open,US Open and Wimbledon.

“I don’t care that Russia is the holder of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. It would shame them when the holders are kicked out of these events.”

Other Ukrainian athletes are taking more direct action. The heavyweight champion of the world,Oleksander Usyk,and Vasiliy Lomachenko,who was supposed to fight Australian lighweight star George Kambosos jnr later this year,have returned home to join a territorial defence battalion in Ukraine.

On Instagram,Lomachenko pleaded for peace,writing,“a prayer for the peace of the whole world and the enlightenment of the peoples of the earth.” Usyk,too,asked for an end to hostilities,even if he was willing to fight the Russian invaders.

“Good morning to everybody,” Usyk wrote alongside a video posted on his Instagram page. “My name is Oleksander Usyk. I’d like to speak to the people of Russia.

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“If we consider ourselves as brothers,orthodox ones. Do not let your children to set out to our country,do not fight with us. Also I’m addressing this to the President Vladimir Putin. You can stop this war. Please just sit down and negotiate it with us without claims.

“Our kids,wives,grannies are hiding in the basements … We are here in our own country,we cannot do it other way – we are defending … Stop it! Stop this war.”

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