Ukraine could boycott the 2024 Paris Olympics if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete, the BBC reported Thursday.
The British broadcaster quoted Ukraine's sports minister Vadym Huttsait as writing on his official Facebook page, "If we are not heard, I do not rule out the possibility that we will boycott and refuse participation in the Olympics."
On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee outlined a road map for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the Paris Games and the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games "under strict conditions."
The IOC previously asked sporting federations to exclude athletes from the countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, but Wednesday's statement said "no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport."
"As long as there is a war in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be in international competitions," said Huttsait, who is also president of Ukraine's National Olympic Committee.
The sports minister added that Ukraine's sporting bodies need to strengthen communication with international federations to keep the ban in place and are working on further possible steps to continue sanctions.
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Olympics: IOC outlines plan to admit Russian, Belarusian athletes
