The International Olympic Committee (IOC) laid to rest any remaining confusion over the status of Russian and Belarusian athletes Friday, announcing that individual athletes would be allowed to compete at the 2026 Olympics in Italy, though once again not under the banners of their home countries.

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which resulted in attempts to incorporate athletic assets in occupied areas, the IOC prohibited competitors from Russia and Belarus from participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics, except under specific guidelines.

Individual athletes were able to compete under the designation of "Individual Neutral Athletes" (AIN) after qualifying through standard qualification systems of the International Federations, but teams of athletes were banned.

That w

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