On Wednesday, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to take part in the Winter Games in Beijing, scheduled for 4-13 March, in a neutral status. However, on Thursday, the IPC overturned its initial decision and completely banned Russians and Belarusians from the Games, citing a threat of a boycott from other countries.
"The Russian Paralympic Committee and its athletes currently do not consider it possible and expedient to stay in Beijing and plan to leave the capital of the Winter Games, the city of wonderful people, in the near future," the RPC said in a release.
The RPC expressed regret that it is prevented by IPC regulation from appealing the ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
"After receiving the IPC decision on the team's non-admission to the Games, the RPC involved leading Russian and foreign law firms to conduct a legal examination if it is possible for the RPC to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and obtain a positive decision during the speedy trials. Unfortunately, Article 2.9 of the section on the Paralympic Games of the IPC regulations does not allow this. According to it, the IPC at its own discretion may bar any athlete from participation at any time, and there is no arbitration clause in the IPC constitution allowing the RPC to appeal to CAS for resolving disputes," according the release.
Russian athletes have been barred from various international competitions in the past days amid Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.