On Friday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) imposed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in October. The ROC's appeal against the suspension was dismissed by CAS, citing that the IOC's decision did not violate principles of legality, equality, predictability, or proportionality.
The IOC had objected to the ROC's inclusion of four sports bodies representing regions of eastern Ukraine, leading to the initial suspension. Despite this setback, the ROC has the option to further appeal to the Swiss supreme court.
As a result of the suspension, the ROC has lost its entitlement to receive funding from the IOC. However, individual Russian athletes are still permitted to compete in international sports as neutral participants. This arrangement includes their participation in various qualifying events for the upcoming Paris Olympics, facilitated by an IOC-supported initiative.
This development underscores the ongoing scrutiny and repercussions faced by the ROC in the realm of international sports. The decision by CAS reaffirms the IOC's stance on maintaining the integrity and compliance of participating Olympic committees.
