Russian and Belarusian athletes should be suspended from all sport, says IOC

Heads and governing bodies of all sports have been asked to not allow athletes or officials from Russia and Belarus to participate in any organised international competitions by the International Olympic Committee.

In a statement, the IOC's executive board made the recommendation because of a «breach of the Olympic Truce»external-link by the Russian and Belarusian governments.

It said that wherever this was not possible for organisational or legal reasons, such athletes should be classed as neutrals and not compete under the name Russia or Belarus.

The International Paralympic Committee is to meet on Wednesday to discuss Russia, just two days before the start of the Beijing Winter Games.

The IOC said it had made its recommendations «in order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants», adding that «the current war in Ukraine puts the Olympic Movement in a dilemma».

«While athletes from Russia and Belarus would be able to continue to participate in sports events, many athletes from Ukraine are prevented from doing so because of the attack on their country,» an IOC statement read.

More to follow.