So the committee is hitting back hard after receiving scathing criticism from 42 of the country’s sports stars.

“Our position, which has been consistent over the past year, is that we support the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international sports while the invasion is ongoing,” the Olympic Committee wrote in a statement.

In an open statement on Thursday, the athletes in question, including former cross country star Beckie Scott, wrote that they perceived the Olympic committee as open to allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to start in Paris as neutral athletes.

“We condemn the COC’s recent statements supporting ‘the exploration of a pathway’ for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as ‘neutrals’ at the 2024 Paris Olympics,” the letter reads.

The IOC has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Paris Olympics next year under special conditions, including that they must take place under a neutral flag and without national symbols. This decision provoked strong reactions from many circles.

In February, Norwegian Culture Minister Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap), along with colleagues from 34 other countries, signed a statement asking the IOC to keep the door closed to both nations. Canada was also part of the teams behind this initiative.

Canadian Olympic Committee chief David Shoemaker told CBC Sports last month that athletes from Russia and Belarus must publicly denounce the war in order to gain the neutral status required to compete again.

It was perceived that Shoemaker was keeping the Olympic door open to Russians and Belarusians.

(© NTB)