The International Olympic Committee will set up its own committee to determine the eligibility of each individual athlete from Russia and Belarus who qualifies to participate in this summer's Paris Olympics, a source with knowledge of the matter said Wednesday.
Because of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Belarus' support of that war, neither nation will be permitted to enter a team in Paris, nor may their qualified individual neutral athletes compete in team events.
In December, the IOC decided that athletes and athletic support personnel cannot take part in the 2024 Olympics if they actively support the war, or if they are contracted to the military or national security agencies from the two countries.
This month, the Ukrainian Olympic Committee claimed that athletes competing in Olympic qualifying from the two nations did not meet the IOC's neutrality standards and requested an investigation.
The panel, whose composition is to be decided by mid-March, will base its decisions on information from Olympic officials and international sports federations.
Those neutral athletes who earn berths in Paris and are deemed eligible by the committee will be invited to the Olympics.
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