Kremlin questions Olympics' decision to allow 'Israel's' participation but restricts Russia's

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has called for clarity on the future of Russian athletes in the Olympic Games, stressing that politics should not interfere with international sport, the Russian news agency TASS reported.

Speaking to Match TV, Peskov commented on the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recent decision to allow 'Israeli' athletes to continue competing globally. "We are against the politicization of sports. The situation with our Olympic athletes and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) needs to be resolved," he said.

The IOC announced earlier that 'Israel' remains in line with the Olympic Charter and therefore faces no suspension from competitions.

By contrast, Russian and Belarusian athletes were sidelined following Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine in 2022. While the IOC later eased its stance by permitting individuals from both countries to compete as neutrals in certain disciplines, their broader participation remains restricted.