Russia, Ukraine war shifts to IOC boardroom

Yelena Isinbayeva and Shamil Tarpishchev – the only Russian members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – have been given permission to attend today’s Session in Lausanne, Switzerland where the organisation’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is set to be addressed.

According to a report by inside the games.biz the IOC has reiterated that Isinbayeva and Tarpishchev are “not representatives of their country” as they look set to participate in the third and final part of the 139th Session.

Isinbayeva and Tarpishchev are expected to access the hybrid meeting remotely along with the majority of IOC members.

There have been calls for the IOC to exclude officials from Russia and Belarus in response to the war in Ukraine.

But the IOC has refused to take such action, meaning Tarpishchev and two-time Olympic pole vault gold medallist Isinbayeva – elected in 1994 and 2016 respectively – are allowed to remain as members of the organisation.

“Under the Olympic Charter, IOC members are not representatives of their country within the IOC,” a statement from the IOC read.

“They are on the contrary elected as individuals by the IOC and then delegates them as ambassadors of the IOC to the sports organizations of their country.”

The IOC added that Isinbayeva “did not participate” in the latest Athletes’ Commission calls but failed to give any reasons for her absence.

The war in Ukraine has caused a huge impact on the sporting landscape since the second part of the IOC Session was held in Beijing on February 19.