“The IOC said athletes from Belarus should once again compete with their full national identity and not be vetted for neutral status, even as the war in Ukraine continues.”

International Olympic CommitteeStatementMay 7, 2026Read the original

The IOC's advice to sports federations.

Our verdict

True

On 7 May 2026 the IOC advised federations to let Belarusian athletes compete under their own flag; Russia's status is unchanged.

What we found

The advice is non-binding and does not apply to Russia. The claim is accurate.

The evidence

2 of 2 sources support the claim; none contradict it.

Contradict 0Support 2Background 0

Supports the claim
IOC urges sports to let Belarus athletes compete again without vetting as neutrals. [1]
Supports the claim
The IOC recommends ending Belarus restrictions. [2]

How we checked

We checked the claim against AP via KSL, Al Jazeera. We reviewed 2 relevant sources.

Sources

[1]AP via KSL · IOC urges sports to let Belarus athletes compete again without vetting as neutrals
[2]Al Jazeera · International Olympic Committee recommends ending Belarus restrictions

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