Throughout 2023, the National Anti-Crisis Management team meticulously compiled dossiers on 179 Belarusian athletes affiliated with military or security forces operating under the Lukashenko regime. These dossiers were then submitted to international partners. As a result of this effort, it has been confirmed that several of these athletes have been deemed ineligible to compete in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
In December 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Committee established stringent eligibility criteria for the participation of Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Paris Games. Subsequently, in March 2024, the IOC Executive Board formed the Athlete Individual Eligibility Review Panel (AINERP).
The AINERP is responsible for verifying the eligibility of athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games, based on the decisions made by the IOC Executive Board and established principles. This verification process involves drawing upon information from various sources, including official lists of athletes associated with military and security forces in Belarus.
In accordance with the established verification rules, not all athletes under review were deemed eligible or invited to participate in the Paris Olympics. The National Anti-Crisis Management played a crucial role in providing information about Belarusian athletes with ties to military structures. This information included details about prominent figures such as Irina Kurochkina and Vanessa Kolodinskaya, both leaders within the wrestling team.
The list of eligible athletes will be subject to updates based on ongoing AINERP decisions.
"The formation of a dedicated group to assess athletes' compliance with IOC criteria, along with the denial of entry to Belarusian athletes linked to military structures, represents a significant step towards safeguarding the integrity of sport and protecting it from political manipulation," said Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management. "The unwavering commitment of free athletes to upholding Olympic values must not be in vain."
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