Russian and Belarusian para-athletes will not participate in the 2026 Winter Paralympics, even though the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has lifted their ban. The IPC oversees the event; however, there are four different governing bodies responsible for the six sports hosted in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Three of these governing bodies have chosen to maintain their bans against athletes from Russia and Belarus. Although Russia and Belarus are now eligible to compete in ice hockey, their reinstatement came too late for them to participate in qualifying events. Their suspensions followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, during which Belarus supported Russia.
A partial ban that allowed athletes to compete as neutrals was established in 2023. Last month, IPC members voted to lift the suspensions of the two nations, permitting para-athletes to compete under their own flags. However, the four international federations have indicated to the IPC that it is unlikely any athletes from Russia or Belarus will qualify for the upcoming Games in March.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), the International Biathlon Union (IBU), and World Curling have not lifted their bans, and World Para Ice Hockey has already finalized the entries for the qualifying tournament, which includes the two last spots for the Games. IPC President Andrew Parsons acknowledged the decisions made by the international federations, emphasizing that their positions restrict athletes from Belarus and Russia from qualifying.
While athletes in those countries may now compete in Para ice hockey events, the qualification process for these Games is well underway, making it improbable for them to participate. The IPC aims to focus on the athletes who will compete and the legacies that the Paralympic Winter Games will generate.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c5ypgkd6klpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss