The Russian Olympic Committee filed an appeal last October after the International Olympic Committee suspended the RUC after the RUC incorporated “four sports bodies representing regions of eastern Ukraine”.  The IOC called the action “a breach of the Olympic Charter”.

On February 23 the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled against the RUC.

Russian athletes have been under suspension for a number of years relating to positive drug tests, the invasion of the Ukraine, and now the incorporating of sporting bodies in occupied areas.  Any Russian athlete who wishes to participate in the Olympics must do so under the Olympic flag with no Russian symbols. and cannot have their own national anthem played during ceremonies.

In their ruling the Court of Arbitration for Sport stated suspension by the IOC “did not breach the principles of legality, equality, predictability or proportionality.”

The ROC claims that the CAS ruling, “practically copied out the IOC’s arguments and ignored the Russian case.”  And added, “This CAS ruling is yet more evidence that civil and sports discrimination directed against Russians has reached an unprecedented scale in the run-up to the Games in Paris.”

The ROC may further appeal the decision to the Swiss Supreme Court; but they have yet to announce their plans.

In response to the ruling the IOC said that they were “pleased” with the ruling and the “suspension of the ROC was valid.”

Along with Russian athletes not being allowed to participate under the Russian flags, the suspension does not allow the ROC to receive any funding from the IOC.

Athletes from the Russian allies Belarus must also participate under the Neutral flag.