Are Russia allowed to compete at the Winter Olympics 2026?
The country has a chequered Winter Olympics history...
To say Russia have a chequered history in the Winter Olympics would be something of an understatement.
The Soviet Union were a dominant force at the Games before their dissolution in 1991, and in the decades since, Russia have been regulars near the top of the medals table.
But their participation in recent Winter Olympics has been limited by sanctions and controversy.
A massive doping scandal saw them suspended after Sochi 2014, with sanctions in place at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, while they're absent from Milano Cortina 2026 for a different reason.
Radio Times outlines the situation concerning Russia at the Winter Olympics 2026.
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Are Russia allowed to compete at the Winter Olympics 2026?
No, Russia are not allowed to compete at the Winter Olympics 2026.
Russia, alongside neighbour Belarus, were suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2023 as its actions in the Ukraine war were considered a breach of the Olympic charter as they violated the territory of Ukraine.
That ban is ongoing and has resulted in its absence at both the Summer Olympics in Paris two years ago and at Milano Cortina 2026.
However, competitors with Russian and Belarusian passports can take part as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) as long as they adhere to the IOC's "strict eligibility conditions".
Each athlete and their support staff have been evaluated by the Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel (AINERP), while their participation is "subject to the athletes’ acceptance of the individual invitation and signing of the Conditions of Participation applicable to all participants".
AINs cannot compete as part of a team, under the Russian or Belarusian flag, or use the Russian or Belarusian national anthem. They will instead compete under a neutral flag, which is teal with a white AIN circular logo, and use an IOC-assigned instrumental anthem for medal ceremonies.
The AIN delegation is not part of the Opening Ceremony and does not have a ranking on the official medal table.
13 athletes with Russian passports and seven with Belarusian passports will compete as AINs at Milano Cortina 2026 – check out the full list.
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