Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko banned from Olympic Games
- International Olympic Committee unveils provisional sanctions as mass protests over disputed election continue to rock the country
- Belarus, expected to co-host the 2021 World Ice Hockey Championships, could now be stripped of the event
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is banned from attending the Olympic Games as head of his country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC), as part of provisional sanctions imposed by the International Olympic Committee on Monday.
The IOC banned two other officials from the NOC, including Lukashenko’s son, Viktor, who is the first vice-president of the national Olympic body.
Belarus, a country of 9.5 million that Russia sees as a security buffer against Nato, has been rocked by mass protests since an August 9 presidential election which Lukashenko said he won. His opponents claim the vote was rigged and want him to quit.
Many Belarusian athletes have written to the IOC demanding urgent action, citing political discrimination and imprisonment by the authorities.
“The IOC has come to the conclusion that it appears that the current leadership has not appropriately protected the Belarusian athletes from political discrimination within the NOC, their member federations or the sports movement,” IOC President Thomas Bach said.
“This is contrary to the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter, therefore seriously affecting the reputation of the Olympic movement,” he added, saying the measures were provisional.