Russia filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the suspension of the International Olympic Committee

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) confirmed this Monday that it has received the appeal filed by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) against the suspension “with immediate effect pending further information” that was filed against it by the International Olympic Committee. (IOC).

The IOC suspended the activities of the Russian Olympic Committee because it decided on October 5 to unilaterally merge regional sports associations from Ukrainian territories under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine, namely Zaporozhye, Donetsk, Lugansk and Kherson.

According to the IOC, this decision “represents a violation of the Olympic Charter.” [conjunto de regras e princípios pelos quais se rege o movimento olímpico]Because it disrespects the territorial integrity of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine.”

For this reason, the IOC decided that “The work of the Russian Olympic Committee is suspended with immediate effect until further notice” and therefore will no longer be able to function as a national committee and receive funds from the Olympic movement.

In its appeal to TAS, the Russian Olympic Committee requests that this decision be reversed and that it be reinstated as a national committee recognized by the IOC, enjoying all the rights and prerogatives granted by the Olympic Charter.

Russia and Belarus have been excluded from several sporting events since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, some athletes were allowed to compete under certain conditions, namely competing under a neutral flag.

Russian and Belarusian athletes were suspended from international competition in March 2022 following Russia’s Belarus-backed invasion of Ukraine.

A year later, the IOC recommended that federations readmit athletes under the above conditions, always as neutrals, and most sports now include athletes of both nationalities.