President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine phoned the president of the International Olympic Committee, German Thomas Bach, last week to remind him that 184 Ukrainian athletes have died since Russia invaded. He reiterated Ukraine’s demand for a broad isolation of Russia and its ally Belarus. This came as IOC circles discussed the possibility of readmitting Russian sport to international competition.
Boxing leads the way
In a move that drew global attention, the World Boxing Association, which held its Centennial Convention in Orlando, Florida, announced the return of Russian and Belarusian boxers to competition. The association argued that athletes should not be held responsible for their governments. Individuals who publicly supported the war or were implicated in it would face immediate expulsion, however.
The WBA, via its Championship and Rating Committees, stated that Russian and Belarusian boxers would regain their places in the standings. This decision marked a milestone in the broader debate over Russian reintegration into international sport.
The news was circulated by the WBA in a tweet from December 13, 2022, underscoring that the sport is opening a path for individual athletes, many of whom do not compete under their country’s flag. The move has drawn pressure from Turkey and resonated in broader geopolitical debates about how to handle Russia and its allies while the United States and other nations reassess their own participation in events featuring Russian athletes.
Observers note this shift reflects a long-running tension between political power and sport. Vladimir Putin’s government has repeatedly used athletic achievement as a form of soft power, while critics point to the same history of sports being leveraged for propaganda—from eras of totalitarian regimes to modern statecraft. The current moment finds the United States seeking to carve out space for its athletes in the absence of Russian competitors, who are seen as strategic rivals along with China.
Many analysts argue that the evolving relationship between Putin and International Olympic Committee president Bach lies at the heart of this drift. Discussions have involved winter sports, ice skating, track and field, and boxing, in which Russia has long exercised influence. Critics like former Estonian defense minister Indrek Kannik have voiced concerns about Bach’s closeness to Moscow, suggesting public pressure influenced decisions after the invasion began. The perception remains that Bach navigates a difficult path between public sentiment and federation interests.
On December 14, the Asian Olympic Committee proposed making it easier for sanctioned athletes to compete in Asia. Michael Payne, a former IOC marketing chief, described Bach’s dilemma as a tough balancing act. He suggested that the IOC is not softening its stance but is trying to keep sport as a unifying, globally relevant platform while coping with an unwinnable situation. The Ukrainian war has stretched longer than many expected, complicating choices about reintegration and participation.
Kannik argued that the ongoing speculation about reintegration does not stem from corruption alone among sports bodies. He contends that powerful state actors, including China and Russia, have substantial influence over international sports organizations. The result is a complex web where political leverage can shape decisions beyond the preferences of athletes or readers.
Federations such as the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) have floated the idea of allowing Russia and Belarus to return to competition, with conditions like competing without flags or national anthems. The FIS Council previously decided to continue excluding Russian and Belarusian teams in all events for the 2023 season. Projections for the Cross Country World Cup earlier indicated a possible presence of a limited number of athletes from those nations.
In the Nordic region, the Scandinavian federations opposed such a revival. The Finnish and Norwegian bodies pressed for bans on Russian and Belarusian participation at FIS meetings after they had been allowed at spring sessions. Some athletes, like Sweden’s Maja Dahlqvist, warned she might boycott the 2023 Nordic World Ski Championships if Russian participation continued.
Judo agencies intend to assess reintegration in January, a move that could prompt Ukrainians to withdraw from circuits in protest. In football, FIFA has faced scrutiny amid broader corruption concerns and declined to broadcast a message from Zelenskiy before the World Cup final in Qatar. For now, the Russian national team remains barred, and club participation is similarly restricted.