For the past several years, the International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from competing in the Olympic Games over doping violations; Belarus was added to the list after Russia invaded the Ukraine with support from Belarus.

Russian and Belarus athletes were allowed to compete but must do so under as a neutral athlete under the Olympian flag.

The International Paralympic Committee has voted to lift those bans and allow athletes to compete under the full rights and privileges of the IPC Constitution.

In a vote, the IPC was 111 for, 55 against, and eleven abstentions to lift the suspensions on Russia.  And the vote was 119 for with 48 against, and nine abstentions to end the suspension on Belarus.

The decision could cause some tension between the IPC and the various governing bodies of the various sports; some of whom have bans and suspensions of their own.

The 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in February and March in Milan and Cortina.

The IPC stated, “this decision means NPC Belarus and NPC Russia now regain their full rights and privileges of IPC membership, in accordance with the IPC Constitution. The IPC will work with the two members involved to put practical arrangements in place for this as soon as reasonably possible.”

The Russian Paralympic Committee issued a post on their website calling it a “fair decision” to “fully reinstate” the athletes.  Adding, “this is an important contribution to the development of the international Paralympic movement and an example that the rights of athletes must be protected without discrimination on the basis of nationality and political affiliation.”

The sport’s minister of Ukraine Matvii Bidnyi responded on X saying, “the position of the host country and the Organizing Committee is crucial, and we are already working closely on this matter.  We call on our European partners, who will host the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games, not to allow the flag of the aggressor state to be raised over the free and democratic space while the war of aggression continues.”

In response to a possible boycott, Bidnyi said, said “the decision on whether to participate will be made collectively at a later stage, depending on many circumstances. When taking this decision, we will be guided solely by the interests of our free and united Ukraine.”

Russian athletes will allowed to compete in next year’s Winnter Games but as neutral athletes.