A noted sports lawyer, Anna Antseliovich, discussed the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) ruling that upheld the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee’s (ROC) membership in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and shed light on why a subsequent appeal was pursued. The remarks, originally quoted by Sport Express, clarify the legal avenues available for challenge and the reasoning behind pursuing another appeal.
Antseliovich explained that the sole legal pathway to contest the CAS decision lies in the Swiss courts, but only on procedural grounds. She noted that a party must demonstrate a violation of their rights to proceed. In this context she suggested that the ROC could seek review in Switzerland if it believes a procedural due process issue occurred during the CAS process. This explanation outlines the narrow scope of permissible appeals and the strict conditions that govern such challenges.
The suspension stemmed from the ROC’s inclusion of certain territories—the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, along with the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions—into the Russian federation’s Olympic Councils. This development, announced in October 2023, prompted the IOC to take action consistent with its broader governance framework and the Olympic Charter, aiming to maintain the integrity of international competition and the status of national bodies within the Olympic Movement.
Historically, the IOC’s stance toward Russian and Belarusian athletes has evolved in response to geopolitical developments related to Ukraine. On February 28, 2022, the IOC advised international sports federations to refrain from inviting or allowing participation by athletes from Russia and Belarus in global events, given the circumstances on the ground. Since that directive, athletes from those nations have mainly competed in local or regional meets, underscoring the interplay between political contexts and sport governance decisions.
At the IOC Executive Board meeting held on March 28, 2023, there was consideration of permitting Russian athletes to compete under a neutral flag, provided they were not actively supporting military operations. By December 2023, the IOC moved to allow Russian competitors to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in a neutral capacity under a set of conditions designed to address eligibility, participation, and anti-discrimination safeguards. This decision reflected a balancing act between inclusive participation and the ongoing need to uphold ethical and regulatory standards within the Olympic Movement.
Meanwhile, the ROC has asserted that it faces unprecedented discrimination in the administrative and competitive landscape of international sport. This assertion highlights ongoing tensions between national bodies and global sport institutions amid evolving geopolitical realities. The dialogue surrounding these issues continues to shape the governance of Olympic participation and the mechanisms through which states, federations, and athletes navigate eligibility and representation on the world stage.