IOC neutrality call sparks debate over Russia’s Olympic future

Fresh comments by the new International Olympic Committee (IOC) president have reignited debate over whether Russia could be welcomed back into the Olympic fold by 2028.

Kirsty Coventry this week urged that the Games remain ‘a place of inspiration’ and a neutral ground for athletes, ahead of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Italy.

Her remarks have been widely interpreted as a signal that Russia’s eventual return to full participation may be under consideration.

‘Sport must remain neutral’

In her address, Coventry said: “The Olympics must remain a place of inspiration where the athletes of the world can come together and showcase the best of our humanity.”

She added, “We understand politics, and we know we don’t operate in a vacuum, but our game is sport. That means keeping sport a neutral ground, a place where every athlete can compete freely without being held back by politics.”

Russia has faced widespread sporting sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, including restrictions within the Olympic movement. The question now confronting global sports governance is whether, and on what grounds, those sanctions should endure.

Sanctions and double standards

Sportswriter and governance expert Osasu Obayiuwana said there are clear precedents for exclusion when a country’s conduct violates fundamental sporting principles.

“There was no way that apartheid South Africa could have remained a member of the Olympic Movement when it was not giving all athletes of the same colour equal treatment to compete,” he said.

But he argued that enforcement of international sporting rules is rarely consistent.

“If you’re applying a rule based on certain parameters, then it should be applied to any country, no matter how powerful,” he said. “But unfortunately, realpolitik and the strict enforcement of rules without fear or favour are two different things.”

Obayiuwana suggested that powerful nations often escape consequences because of their geopolitical influence.

“The rules are not applied equally to everyone,” he said, adding that global sport reflects the same uneven power dynamics seen in international politics.

Who decides, and on what grounds?

The debate also touches on wider concerns, including allegations of state-backed doping programmes and whether certain countries receive preferential treatment.

Obayiuwana argued that sports governing bodies such as the IOC and FIFA must enforce rules consistently if they are to retain credibility.

“If you’re going to sanction Russia, you have to sanction all other countries that have behaved similarly,” he said. “If you’re not prepared to punish everyone on the same standards, then why ban anybody?”

With the Winter Games underway in Italy, the IOC’s commitment to neutrality is being tested once again, not only on the field of play, but in the political arena that increasingly surrounds it.

Critics say whether Russia is readmitted before the 2028 Olympics may ultimately depend less on principle and more on the shifting balance of global power.

For more detailed information, listen to Obayiuwana using the audio player below: