Two-thirds of Russian athletes approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to compete as neutrals at the Paris Olympics have expressed support for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine or ties to its military, according to a new report.

Fifteen Russians and 16 Belarusians have accepted invitations to compete under a neutral flag at the Paris Games, which begin on July 26, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said. Athletes from the two countries were banned from world sport following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but the IOC has overseen their gradual return under a neutral flag, subject to strict conditions.

Global Rights Compliance, a human rights foundation based in The Hague, said in a report that 10 of the 15 Russians were found to be in violation of “the principles of participation” of neutral athletes. “Despite the fact that Global Rights Compliance has presented clear evidence of violations, the IOC has failed to act in accordance with its own rules,” the group said.

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In a statement to AFPThe IOC said it could not comment on individual cases and the decisions of the review panel. “It has assessed the athletes in accordance with the decision of the IOC Executive Board and the principles that have been established. We have nothing further to add.”

According to the law firm’s report released on Thursday, Russian cyclist Alena Ivanchenko in March 2022 liked a social media post featuring a photo of dictator Joseph Stalin with the caption: “A truce with the enemy is possible after its destruction.”

Cyclist Tamara Dronova violated two rules: ties to national security services and pro-war behavior in public, the report said. Canoeist Olesia Romasenko is a member of the Central Sports Club of the Army (CSKA), a Russian sports institution subordinate to the Defense Ministry.

‘Lip service’

The other Russian athletes named in the report are canoeist Alexei Korovashkov, swimmer Evgenii Somov, trampoline gymnast Anzhela Bladtceva and tennis players Mirra Andreeva, Pavel Kotov, Diana Shnaider and Elena Vesnina.

Vesnina liked posts about “military feats” of Russian soldiers killing Ukrainians and posts with the pro-war “Z” symbol, the report said.

Of the 16 Belarusian athletes, several were also found in violation of eligibility rules. There was no immediate reaction from the Russian and Belarusian Olympic Committees.

“If the IOC’s stated purpose is to ‘build a better world through sport,’ then the IOC must take action to show that it – and its affiliated companies – do more than just pay lip service to ethics and human rights for all,” said Wayne Jordash, president of Global Rights Compliance.

The group said it alerted the IOC’s corporate partners – including Airbnb, Coca Cola, Visa, Deloitte, Panasonic and Carrefour – to the findings, adding that “they could unwittingly be complicit in condoning Russia’s criminal military action.”

Since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, some 450 Ukrainian athletes have died on the battlefield. To be invited to the Games, “neutral individual athletes” who achieved good enough results to qualify had to undergo a double check.

First by the international sports federations and then by the IOC, to ensure that they did not actively support the war in Ukraine and had no ties to their country’s armies.

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