Athletes from Russia will be allowed to participate at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games under a neutral flag, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday.

The decision by the IOC after a meeting in Milan on Friday was expected and maintains the same sanctions as the Summer Games in Paris last year.

The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023 after sanctions were imposed due to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, saying it violated the Olympic Charter.

"We also spoke about the Independent Neutral Athletes (AINs) . This will be nothing new," IOC President Kirsty Coventry said at a press conference, according to Reuters . "The Executive board will take the exact same approach that was done in Paris (2024 Olympics). Nothing has changed."

IOC President

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