Russian and Belarusian para-athletes will not participate in the 2026 Winter Paralympics, despite the International Paralympic Committee lifting its ban on them.
Although the IPC oversees the Games, there are four separate governing bodies in charge of the six sports taking place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Three of the governing bodies have decided to maintain their bans on athletes from Russia and Belarus, and although the two nations are now allowed to compete in ice hockey, the decision came too late for them to be eligible for qualifying rounds.
Both countries were initially suspended from Paralympic competition following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Belarus being a close ally of Russia.
A partial ban allowing athletes to compete as neutrals was introduced in 2023, and the IPC recently lifted suspensions on the two countries, permitting athletes to represent Russia and Belarus under their own flags.
However, the four international federations have informed the IPC that, in practice, qualifying for the Games is unlikely for athletes from these nations. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), International Biathlon Union (IBU), and World Curling continue to uphold bans, while World Para Ice Hockey has already finalized team entries for qualification tournaments.
IPC President Andrew Parsons stated, The positions of FIS, IBU, and World Curling currently mean athletes from Belarus and Russia cannot compete in their events, making it impossible for them to qualify for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. As we look forward to the Games, we must focus on the exceptional athletes who will be participating and the legacies that this event will create.
