Kremlin hails 'important step' as IOC eases Olympic restrictions on Russia

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The Kremlin welcomed the IOC's easing of restrictions on Russia, allowing Russian athletes to compete more freely at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The IOC lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and advised sports bodies to stop vetting athletes for neutral participation.

The Kremlin has welcomed as an “important step” the International Olympic Committee's decision to remove many of its restrictions on Russia, a big step closer to letting it field a full team when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Games. The IOC provisionally lifted a suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and advised Olympic sports bodies they no longer need to be vetting its athletes for permission to compete as neutrals. “It is an important step toward reinstating our athletes’ legitimate rights to participate in international competitions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday.