United States backs IOC call for Russia sports ban

US Olympic chiefs threw their support behind International Olympic Committee calls for Russian athletes to be banned from international competition following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in a statement they supported the IOC’s requests for Russian athletes to be suspended, and asked the ban to include the Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing this week.

“The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the USOPC Athletes Advisory Council join the IOC and the global Olympic community in calling for a complete ban on international sport participation, effective immediately and inclusive of the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 for Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials,” the USOPC statement said.

“As the world watches in horror while Russia brazenly attacks the innocent people and athletes of Ukraine, this is the only acceptable action to be taken until peace has been restored.”

The IOC on Monday suggested that international sports federations and sports event organisers do not “invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions.”