The Olympic stage is about to get a whole lot more complicated, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee. The massive implications are clear: come 2028 in Los Angeles, Russian athletes might just be competing under their national flag again - a prospect that's left many with a mix of emotions.
The initial suspension was imposed back in 2023, a direct response to Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine. But now, the IOC has declared that ban 'no longer applicable', as long as Russian athletes can meet all anti-doping requirements.
But here's the catch - we still don't know for certain if they'll be allowed to fly their flag, sport their national colours and hear their anthem at the Games. The IOC is walking a tightrope, trying to differentiate between the state's actions and individual athletes' involvement. They're refusing to budge on inviting Russian government officials to attend events, but are giving Russian athletes another chance.
It's been a journey for Russian athletes, who've had to compete as neutrals in recent Olympics. In Paris 2024, just 32 Russians and Belarusians competed under that neutral banner, securing five medals between them. Compare that to Tokyo 2021, where the full Russian team raked in an impressive 71 medals.
The news has been welcomed by Russia's Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev, who's vowed to keep politics out of the Games. He's confirmed they'll be taking part in qualifying events for LA 2028 - but the IOC's stance is still being met with criticism from some quarters.
It's a complex situation, and one that highlights just how tricky it can be to balance politics and athlete participation. Meanwhile, other sports bodies are taking a harder line, like World Athletics which rejected an IOC recommendation on Belarusian athletes in May.