The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to suspend its membership. The ROC’s suspension came after it included regional sports organizations under the authority of Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) as its members.
CAS has confirmed the registration of the appeal and stated that the ROC is requesting the reversal of the IOC’s decision and reinstatement as a recognized NOC with all the rights and privileges granted by the Olympic Charter. The arbitration proceedings have begun, with the parties exchanging written submissions and the panel of arbitrators being constituted according to the CAS Code.
The IOC banned the Russian Olympic Committee on October 12 for recognizing regional organizations from territories annexed from Ukraine. This immediate ban does not affect Russian athletes competing as neutrals, but the ROC will not be eligible for any funding.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the IOC, accusing them of using the Games as a political tool. He stated that the invitation to the Games is not solely based on sporting results but can be earned through political gestures unrelated to sports. Putin described this as gross and racist ethnic discrimination.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year has resulted in various sporting sanctions, including exclusion from international soccer. The CAS Panel’s decision on the ROC’s appeal will be final and binding, except for the parties’ right to file an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days on limited grounds.
In conclusion, the Russian Olympic Committee has appealed the IOC’s decision to suspend its membership, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport will decide the outcome of the appeal. The ban on the ROC was a result of recognizing regional organizations from annexed territories, and Russian athletes will compete as neutrals. President Putin criticized the IOC for using the Games for political purposes, and the CAS Panel’s decision will be final unless appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
