Russian athletes will compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, despite a ban on official Russian team participation, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed January 29th. The decision stems from both ongoing doping sanctions and the geopolitical consequences of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in 2023 after it incorporated sports organizations from occupied Ukrainian territories, effectively barring Russia from sending an official team to the Games. The Russian flag, anthem, and national branding will not be present at the competition, mirroring the approach taken at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
However, a limited number of athletes holding Russian passports – 13 have qualified as of February 6th – will be permitted to compete under a neutral status. This policy aims to separate athletes from the actions of the Russian government, according to the IOC. Seven athletes from Belarus, which has supported Russia in the war in Ukraine, have also qualified as AINs.
To participate, athletes must undergo strict eligibility checks, including anti-doping vetting and background screening. They are prohibited from publicly supporting the war in Ukraine or having affiliations with military or security agencies. AIN athletes will compete as individuals, not as representatives of a team. Should an AIN athlete win a gold medal, a specially commissioned, wordless anthem will be played instead of the Russian or Belarusian national anthem.
The ban on full Russian participation builds on years of restrictions following investigations into state-sponsored doping manipulation, most notably surrounding the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. The initial Olympic truce, a tradition of laying down arms to allow athletes to compete in peace, was violated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, triggering the current sanctions.
AIN athletes will not be allowed to participate in the Opening Ceremony on February 6th. The IOC has not yet commented on potential challenges to the AIN eligibility review process or the criteria used by the Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel (AINERP) to evaluate athlete eligibility.
