IPC to exclude Russian, Belarusian athletes from Beijing Paralympics

The International Paralympic Committee said Thursday it will decline athlete entries from Russia and Belarus for the Beijing Paralympics, reversing its governing board's decision from the previous day that would have allowed them to compete as neutrals.

Beijing Paralympics

Beijing Paralympics

Photo taken on March 3, 2022, shows the flag of the Russian Paralympic Committee (C) at the athletes' village for the Beijing Winter Paralympics in Beijing on the eve of its opening ceremony. The International Paralympic Committee decided the same day to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus from the Beijing Games, reversing its governing board's decision from the previous day that would have allowed them to compete as neutrals.

Beijing Paralympics

Beijing Paralympics

Photo taken on March 3, 2022, shows the flag of the Russian Paralympic Committee (C) at the athletes' village for the Beijing Winter Paralympics in Beijing on the eve of its opening ceremony. The International Paralympic Committee decided the same day to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus from the Beijing Games, reversing its governing board's decision from the previous day that would have allowed them to compete as neutrals.

Beijing Paralympics

Beijing Paralympics

Photo taken on March 3, 2022, shows the flag of the Russian Paralympic Committee (R) at the athletes' village for the Beijing Winter Paralympics in the Yanqing area on the eve of its opening ceremony. The International Paralympic Committee decided the same day to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus from the Beijing Games, reversing its governing board's decision from the previous day that would have allowed them to compete as neutrals.

Russia, Belarus athletes to compete in Paralympics as neutrals

Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete in the Beijing Paralympic Games as neutrals under the Paralympic flag, while their results will be excluded from the medal table, the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday. The IPC governing board made its decision two days before the opening of the Winter Games, amid growing calls from the international sporting community for a blanket ban from competition over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in which it is supported by Belarus.