The exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams from most international sports competitions, widely referred to as the sanctions or boycott on Russian sport, represents one of the most comprehensive responses by global sporting bodies to a Russian invasion of Ukraine, which started on 24 February 2022. These measures began with a swift recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and were implemented by numerous federations within days.
Over the subsequent four years, the situation evolved from blanket exclusions to carefully conditioned neutral participation for individuals, while team bans largely remained in place. The IOC lifted its ban in July 2026.
Background Since 1993, the United Nations General Assembly has supported the IOC and the development of the Olympic and Paralympic Games by adopting a resolution every two years that calls on member states to observe the Olympic Truce.
On 2 December 2021, at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, a resolution titled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" was adopted by consensus, with 173 of the 193 member states voting in favor. The resolution called for the observance of the Olympic Truce for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, covering the period from seven days before the start of the Olympic Games until seven days after the conclusion of the Paralympic Games.
Given that the Beijing Winter Olympics began on 4 February 2022, Russia initially observed the start of the truce. The truce period, however, was set to last until seven days after the end of the Winter Paralympics, which, according to the official schedule, concluded on 13 March 2022. Therefore, the Olympic Truce was in effect until 20 March 2022.
On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine. On the same day, the IOC strongly condemned this violation of the Olympic Truce in an official statement. The following day, the IOC Executive Board urged all international sports federations to cancel or relocate any sports events planned for Russia or Belarus due to the breach of the truce. Furthermore, the IOC stipulated that no Russian or Belarusian flags or national anthems should be displayed at any international sports event.
Chronology of key suspensions 24 February
The UEFA Executive Committee decided to relocate the final of the men's Champions League from the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg to the Stade de France. On 28 February, UEFA decided to end its partnership with Gazprom across all competitions.
The ATP chose to move the St. Petersburg Open tournament.
Formula 1 suspended the Russian Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in Sochi in September 2022. World Champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen had previously called for the cancellation of the race. On 3 March, the contract with the promoter was terminated, and it was stated that Russia would "not have a race in the foreseeable future". Later, Formula 1 stopped official broadcasts in Russia and blocked access to its website from Russian territory.
25 February The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) announced the suspension of the Boulder and Speed World Cup in Moscow, 1–3 April, with intent to relocate and reschedule the event.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) announced that all remaining events in Russia were cancelled.
The World Curling Federation announced that the 2022 European Curling Championship, scheduled for 19–26 November, will no longer be held in Perm.
26 February The owner of the English football club Chelsea, Russian national Roman Abramovich, announced he would hand "stewardship" of the club to the trustees of the team's charitable foundation in an attempt to shield it from future repercussions.
Similarly, the major international boxing organizations (IBF, WBC, WBA, WBO) announced the suspension of championship events in Russia until further notice.
The volleyball federations of France and Poland, the reigning Olympic and World champions respectively, declared they would withdraw from the men's World Championship if it were to be held in Russia.
27 February The International Swimming Federation (FINA) cancelled the World Junior Championships scheduled to be held in Russia and confirmed that no other international competitions would be held in the country until further notice. Subsequently, the championship was moved to Lima, Peru.
The International Judo Federation (IJF) suspended Russian President Vladimir Putin from his positions as Honorary President and Ambassador of the organization.
28 February The IOC issued a resolution in which it:
Recommended that international sports federations not invite or permit the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions. Stated that where participation is unavoidable for logistical reasons, Russian or Belarusian individuals or teams should only be allowed as neutrals, without any national symbols, colors, flags, or anthems being displayed. Reiterated its recommendation not to organize sports events in Russia and Belarus. Withdrew the Olympic Order from key Russian government officials, including President Vladimir Putin (who had received the Olympic Order in 2001).
The IOC said that the recommendation was made "in order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants", adding that it had acted with a "heavy heart".
On the same day, FIFA suspended Russian national teams from participating in the 2022 World Cup. UEFA concurrently announced the disqualification of Russian clubs from its international competitions.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) suspended all Russian and Belarusian national teams and clubs from its competitions across all categories until further notice.
1 March World Athletics announced the immediate exclusion of athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus from all World Athletics Series events "for the foreseeable future".
The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) withdrew Russia's hosting rights of the 2022 Men's World Championship scheduled for August and September.
The ski federations of the Scandinavian countries, Norway and Sweden, announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not be allowed to enter their territories to participate in competitions scheduled for the following month.
The British government declared that national sports teams from Russia and Belarus were considered "persona non grata".
3 March The International Paralympic Committee on 3 March banned Russian athletes from competing at the 2022 Winter Paralympics.
4–5 March Following a 1 March meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile announced three days later the introduction of "circular-emergency measures". Such policies barred Russian and Belarusian drivers from competing in FIA-sanctioned races unless they agreed to conditions such as condemning the invasion and to not use their respective countries' emblems. Those with multiple citizenships were not affected by the rule and could compete under their other nationality.
Unlike its auto racing counterpart, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme imposed a full ban on Russian and Belarusian riders from international motorcycle racing events. The decision came after the FIM Board of Directors met on 5 March.
National responses to the suspensions Several National Olympic Committees (NOCs) publicly endorsed the IOC's recommendation to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions, including those of Australia, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In most cases, these endorsements were accompanied by practical measures restricting sporting relations with Russia and Belarus and relocating events previously scheduled in those countries.
In Australia, the NOC urged member federations not to invite Russian or Belarusian athletes and to withdraw from events involving them. Denmark's NOC and Sports Confederation publicly supported a comprehensive ban and called on clubs to sever sporting relations. Ecuador prohibited Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in tournaments held on its territory.
The Netherlands' Olympic Committee urged international federations to relocate events from Russia and Belarus and to exclude their athletes from competitions abroad. Spain introduced a ban on Russian national teams and athletes competing under the Russian flag in events organized on Spanish territory and requested Spanish federations to avoid participation in events held in Russia. Portugal's federations facilitated the temporary registration and support of Ukrainian athletes displaced by the war.
Poland combined sporting and humanitarian measures: the Polish Football Association refused to play Russia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification playoffs and supported regulatory changes allowing simplified registration of Ukrainian players in Polish leagues. Croatia provided training facilities for Ukrainian athletes and supported charity football matches involving Ukrainian clubs.
In Sweden, the national sports confederation requested government funding to support Ukrainian refugees through sports programmes, while some federations recommended limiting contractual relations with Russian players. In the United Kingdom, government sanctions against Russian individuals had direct consequences for sport, most notably in the forced sale of Chelsea FC following sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovich; Wimbledon also imposed a unilateral ban on Russian and Belarusian players in 2022.
Impact on sponsorship agreements The suspension of Russian sport was accompanied in several countries by the termination or reassessment of sponsorship agreements involving Russian companies. While some states had limited exposure to Russian or Belarusian sponsors, others saw high-profile commercial relationships suspended.
In the United Kingdom, Manchester United terminated its sponsorship agreement with Aeroflot, and Everton suspended partnerships with Russian companies linked to sanctioned individuals. In Italy, AC Milan ended its partnership with the Russian betting company FonBet.
Spanish clubs responded differently: Real Madrid cancelled a regional sponsorship agreement with Fonbet and announced humanitarian donations related to the war, whereas FC Barcelona maintained its sponsorship arrangement with the Russian betting company 1xBET. In Switzerland, the ice hockey club EV Zug suspended its sponsorship agreement with Nord Stream AG. At the European level, the EHF Champions League released clubs from certain obligations connected to sponsorship arrangements involving Nord Stream 2 AG.
Adidas suspended its long-term kit partnership with the Russian Football Union, which first began in 2008. Adidas had provided all Russian teams with kits and had expanded the federation's replica kit sales in the retail market.
Russian football suspension
On 24 February 2022, the three teams in Russia's 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs, namely the Czech Republic, Poland, and Sweden, immediately declared their unwillingness to play any matches on Russian territory. Within days, this stance hardened into a total boycott: Poland and Sweden extended their refusal to all qualifying games on 26 February, with the Czech Republic following suit the next day. This collective decision effectively eliminated Russia from contention, as it prevented them from playing their playoff match against Poland, as well as any potential final against the Czech Republic or Sweden.