Russia is currently banned from competing at the Olympic Games because of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Belarus is likewise banned because of its support for Russia in that conflict. However, approved athletes from those countries will be permitted to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (referred to as AIN, from the French athlètes individuels neutres), an official designation that serves to distance athletes from their national affiliation. As of late January 2026, there were about 20 AINs scheduled to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. To find out more about the ban, read Britannica’s Is Russia Participating in the Olympics? article.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style