Nine European countries have asked the European Commission to exclude the International Olympic Committee from funding programs after its decision to allow Russian athletes to qualify for the 2028 Olympics.
The appeal was sent to European Commissioner Glenn Micallef, whose portfolio includes sports. ERR reports that Estonia initiated the move. It was joined by Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Finland, and Sweden.
The authors of the letter also called for cutting funding through European programs to sports federations that have allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in their competitions. In their view, international sports bodies should take into account the values of the European Union and prevent sport from being used for political purposes by Russia and Belarus.
The appeal also says that because of the war, Ukrainian athletes have been placed at a disadvantage. In the text cited by ERR, the countries stress that while respecting the autonomy of sports organizations, EU states still call on international bodies to uphold the principles of human rights, the rule of law, and peaceful relations between states.
On July 7, the IOC reversed its decision to suspend the Russian Olympic Committee and effectively withdrew its earlier recommendations on the participation of Russian athletes in competitions. That decision means Russian athletes are no longer required to compete only under neutral status and may take part in qualifying for the 2028 Games.