Russia accuses OIC of double standards amid Gaza conflict

Russia has accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of having "double standards" for its handling of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and called for the full readmission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to sports events.

"We demand from the IOC a clear and unequivocal rejection of the practice of double standards, the strict application of equal treatment of all athletes without exceptions and without discrimination on any grounds whatsoever," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday, according to the TASS news agency.

Zakharova was referring to the IOC recent statement that it will take action against athletes who stage boycotts and discriminate representatives of Israel.

For the IOC, Russia's suspension and the conflict between Israel and Palestine with possible discrimination against Israeli athletes are not comparable.

"The measures and recommendations taken by the IOC are the consequence of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army during the 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This is a violation of the Olympic Truce, which was in force at the time, and a violation of the Olympic Charter," the IOC told dpa in response to a request.

"The IOC continues to monitor the situation and its impact on Israeli and Palestinian athletes. In accordance with the Olympic Charter, the Israeli and Palestinian Olympic Committees have lived in peaceful coexistence for several decades," it said.

The IOC initially banned Russia and its ally Belarus from international sports events after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. However, a few months ago, it recommended to sports federations to allow Russians and Belarusians a return, as neutral athletes in individual events and under strict conditions.

This recommendation, however, doesn't concern their participation at the Summer Olympics in Paris next year and the Winter Olympics Milano Cortina in 2026.

Last month, the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), but no decision has been made yet on whether Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the 2024 Paris Games and the Winter Games Milano Cortina in 2026 as neutrals.

The body again said that a decision will be taken "at the appropriate time."