IOC Summit reconfirmed all its recommendations and restrictions for Russian and Belarusian players and teams over 18.
Ahead of the upcoming FIDE General Assembly, and in response to press coverage regarding IOC recommendations for Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams, ECU wish to inform precisely its members:
The 14th Olympic IOC Summit met on 11th December 2025 in Lausanne and updated its policy and recommendations regarding the Russian and Belarussian sports federations and athletes.
The recommendations of the IOC are summarized as follows:
- Youth athletes U18 with a Russian or Belarusian passport should no longer be restricted in their access to international youth competitions, in both individual and team sports.
- The IOC’s Recommended Conditions of Participation for International Federations and International Sports Event Organizers of 28 March 2023 should remain in place for senior (adults over 18) competitions.
IOC recommendations to International Sports Federations:
- Existing sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian governments should also remain in place. In particular, the restriction on accreditations or invitations to international sports events or meetings for government officials from Russia and Belarus should remain in place for both senior and youth events.
- IFs should continue to refrain from organizing or supporting international sports events in Russia. This recommendation no longer applies to Belarus.
The ECU position, as stated in the decisions of the ECU Board and ECU General Assembly, is that the ECU complies with and follows IOC directions and recommendations; however, the updated IOC directions will be discussed at the upcoming ECU meetings.
Regarding any alleged intention or act of censorship, we note that it is the fully respected democratic right of any individual, journalist, sports official, federation, or sports ministry to openly support or not support the IOC position and recommendations.