During the 142nd session of the International Olympic Committee in Paris, a speech delivered by the head of Olympic Broadcasting Service Yiannis Exarchos drew attention to a video clip featuring Karen Khachanov. The clip highlighted the Russian tennis player’s performance at the 2020 Olympic Games as the audience watched with interest. Khachanov reached the finals of the individual event and earned the silver medal, marking a memorable chapter in his Olympic journey. Despite this personal success, Khachanov received an invitation from the IOC to participate in the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, a prospect he ultimately chose not to pursue.
In late February 2022, the IOC called on international sports federations to limit the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. The aim was to prevent these competitors from taking part in events amid geopolitical tensions. This stance evolved over time, and by the end of 2023 the IOC had decided that Russians and Belarusians could compete as neutral athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games, provided they met a set of conditions and qualifications designed to ensure compliance with Olympic principles.
On March 6, the International Tennis Federation announced its own decision to permit Russian and Belarusian tennis players to take part in the Olympic Games in France under a neutral status. The policy allowed these athletes to compete in Paris 2024 if they adhered to the neutral athlete guidelines previously established by the International Olympic Committee. The emphasis remained on separating sports performance from national affiliation in light of ongoing global events, a stance intended to preserve fairness and competitive integrity across the tennis tournament.
Karen Khachanov has previously explained the reasons behind the initial rejection from the Olympic Games. The discussion around eligibility has been part of a broader conversation about how athletes from certain nations participate in international events during times of geopolitical strain. This ongoing dialogue reflects the balancing act that major sports bodies perform between upholding the Olympic Charter and addressing the realities of international relations.