IPC Lifts Russian Paralympics Ban for 2026 Games

IPC imposes restrictions on Russian and Belarus players to participate in the 2026 Winter Paralympics, although they will be allowed to play in the name of their countries and with a quota.

The International Paralympics Committee (IPC) has lifted the ban on previous years and allowed Russian and Belarusian Paralympian athletes to attend the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics under their full national identity, including flags and anthems. 

Russia is allocated six slots: two in Para-alpine skiing, Para cross-country skiing and Para-snowboard each having gender balance. Belarus receives four places in Para cross country skiing which is seen as the same as any other country.

What is the Reason Behind IPC Suspension?

The Paralympic Committee of Russia was partially suspended from 2023 due to improper constitutional violations related to the 2022 geopolitical events and the previous doping abuse. 

In September 2025, IPC members of the Seoul General Assembly voted against suspensions (Russia: 91-77 against partial; Belarus: 103-63), and IPC members returned to full membership. The first doping penalties were based on a scandal in 2014 sponsored by the state, which excluded Russia in 2016 Summer Paralympics.

Quota Allocation

Assignments are also made to focus on most important winter sports with limited qualification. Russian competitors to be expected are in the form of alpine skier Aleksey Bugaev (champion three times), cross-country participants Ivan Golubkov and Anastasiia Bagiian. 

These quotas only refer to Paralympics, and not the parallel Winter Olympics.

Qualification Challenges

IPC reinstatement International federations (FIS, IBU, World Curling, World Para Ice Hockey) affirm no feasible way of qualifying Belarusian or Russian competitors to competitions since they remain barred. 

FIS barred entry to Para skiing/snowboard qualifiers, IBU bans biathlon federations, curling ban continues until 2024-25. IPC President Andrew Parsons focused on the federation's autonomy and turned to other competitors.

What were the International Reactions?

In November 2025, more than 30 countries and the European Commission criticized the continued war in Ukraine and breaches of Olympic Truces, and greeted further Olympic bans by IOC. The sports minister of Ukraine signed the statement, calling on no state representation. Critics point to threats to Paralympics togetherness, but IPC focuses on governance development.

Milano-Cortina 2026

The Games will take place in Italy (March 6-15, 2026) and will be the 50th anniversary of Paralympics Winter sports and have 79 medal events in six sports. 

On the official site you can find the venues in Milano and Cortina d'Ampezzo to do alpine, cross-country, snowboard, biathlon, ice hockey, and curling. This issue is a test of IPC balance of inclusion in the global tensions.

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