The Kremlin has welcomed as an 鈥渋mportant step鈥� the International Olympic Committee’s to remove many of its restrictions on Russia, a big step closer to letting it field a full team when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Games.
The IOC provisionally lifted of the Russian Olympic Committee and advised Olympic sports bodies they no longer need to be vetting its athletes for permission to compete as neutrals.
鈥淚t is an important step toward reinstating our athletes鈥� legitimate rights to participate in international competitions,鈥� Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday. 鈥淲ork will continue through our sports authorities. They are conducting this work constantly and consistently, this work will continue.鈥�
Peskov added that 鈥渘ow, it鈥檚 very important that all our athletes have the opportunity to compete in major international events.鈥�
Ukraine has strongly objected to the IOC’s move to lift restrictions imposed shortly after Russia invaded in 2022.
Ukraine’s , Marta Kostyuk, condemned the IOC’s 鈥渢errible鈥� decision as being 鈥渧ery, very far from fair play鈥� as she reached the Wimbledon semifinals on Wednesday.
The IOC鈥檚 guidance to reintegrate Russians in international events is not binding for the governing bodies of individual sports.
Track and field has already said it will not follow suit and there is no sign yet of changes which could let Russia return to major soccer events like Euro 2028 or a future .
鈥淔IFA has been made aware of the decision taken by the IOC to provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee,鈥� soccer’s governing body said. 鈥淔IFA will analyze the decision before deciding on next steps in coordination with the relevant stakeholders.鈥�
FIFA last year invited Russia to send a team to the inaugural boys鈥� Under-15 Football Festival in Azerbaijan starting Oct. 22. That came soon after the IOC allowing Russian youth teams to compete with the country’s flag and anthem.
European soccer body UEFA declined to comment on the IOC decision in an emailed response to The Associated Press.
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