By The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has lifted the partial suspensions on Russia and Belarus, restoring their full membership rights and privileges, the decision was made after IPC member organisations voted at the general assembly in Seoul on Saturday.
Both countries had been barred from Paralympic competition since 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, was also included in the suspension.
Despite the sanctions, athletes from Russia and Belarus were permitted to compete at the Paris Paralympics earlier this year as neutrals, that arrangement came after officials rejected a full ban in 2023, opting instead for a partial suspension.
Saturday’s vote marks a major shift, Russia and Belarus can now reclaim the full benefits of IPC membership, which could open the door for their athletes to once again compete under their own flags at the Winter Paralympics in Milano Cortina in March 2026.
However, the path is not straightforward, the six international federations that oversee sports on the 2026 programme have maintained their own bans on Russian and Belarusian athletes, meaning participation under national banners remains uncertain.
The ruling comes just a week after the International Olympic Committee confirmed that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to take part in the 2026 Winter Olympics, though only under a neutral flag and under strict conditions, as they did at the Paris 2024.
In a statement confirming the restoration of full rights, the IPC said: “The IPC will work with the two members involved [Russia and Belarus] to put practical arrangements in place for this as soon as reasonably possible.”
The Russian Paralympic Committee welcomed the outcome, calling it a “fair decision,”“ this is an important contribution to the development of the international Paralympic movement and an example that the rights of athletes must be protected without discrimination on national and political grounds, it added.
Currently, Russian athletes are competing at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi under neutral status, the vote breakdown showed significant division among IPC members, for Russia, 111 voted against a full suspension, with 55 in favour and 11 abstentions, a motion for a partial suspension was also rejected, 91–77, with eight abstentions.
Belarus received slightly stronger backing for reinstatement. Members voted 119–48 against a full suspension, with nine abstentions, and 103–63 against a partial suspension, with 10 abstentions.
