The IOC granted 14 Russians and 11 Belarusians neutral status for the Paris Olympics in the first round of decisions

LAUSANNA, Switzerland (AP) – The IOC has approved 14 athletes from Russia and 11 Belarusians with neutral status to compete at the Paris Olympics in the first list of certain sports released Saturday.

Except for tennis, swimming and judo, but not tennis, swimming or judo, the International Olympic Committee’s review panel assessed the first round of decisions.

Cycling, gymnastics, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling were evaluated, and lists of athletes representing other Olympic sports are likely to appear within days.

The competitors approved on Saturday include defending Olympic champion in men’s trampoline Ivan Litvinovich of Belarus. No athlete has been approved to practice taekwondo.

Russia and Belarus are banned from participating in team sports at the Paris Olympics due to the military invasion of Ukraine.

Individual competitors with Russian and Belarusian passports can take part in qualifying competitions in most other sports disciplines as neutral competitors and then apply to take part in the Olympic Games.

Ukrainian athletes and officials called on the IOC and sports leaders to impose a total ban on all Russians. Athletics did it.

A two-stage neutral status verification process goes through the sport’s governing bodies, followed by an IOC panel before appeals before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Olympic Games in Paris will start on July 26.

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AP Olympic Games: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games