By Owen Lloyd |
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has advised that athletes from Russia and Belarus should be banned from all international sporting events.
It has also withdrawn the Olympic Order from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The move follows an IOC Executive Board meeting where Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was discussed.
In instances where Russian and Belarusian athletes cannot be removed from competition, they should compete as neutrals, the IOC has recommended.
More than 210 Ukrainian citizens have been killed, according to Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova, since the military offensive was launched last Thursday (February 24).
In excess of 350,000 people have fled the country, while Russia and Belarus have suffered military losses in the thousands.
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Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz.