RIGA, July 8 (LETA) - The Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK) does not support the decision adopted Tuesday by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne to provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee’s membership, the LOK informs.

The LOK emphasizes that it strongly condemns the IOC’s decisions aimed at restoring the status and membership of the Russian and Belarusian Olympic Committees.

Despite the fact that Russia has been forced to exclude the occupied territories from its jurisdiction-which, in a sense, can be viewed as progress that has compelled the aggressor state to change its policy on territorial issues-the LOK completely disagrees with the lifting of existing restrictions on athletes from aggressor states across the entire sports community, and especially before the start of the qualifying competitions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, the LOK statement reads.

It is emphasized that any concession sends a dangerous signal that aggression and violations of international law may ultimately be accepted.

The LOK expresses its hope that the international sports federations, to which the authority and responsibility for making further decisions and implementing specific regulations have now been transferred, will have purposefully used this time to establish mechanisms that will prevent the aforementioned athletes from participating in international competitions. The LOK informs that several influential international federations are already known to have voiced their opposition loudly and unequivocally.

The LOK points out that the legal frameworks and formal criteria within international sports organizations must not be evaluated in isolation from the real-world context. Compliance with formal requirements does not erase or diminish the tragic events, brutal attacks on civilians, and destruction of infrastructure that continue to affect Ukraine and its sports community on a daily basis.

The LOK adds that this IOC decision does not overturn or resolve the numerous and serious anti-doping violations, so the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has still not reinstated the Russian Anti-Doping Agency’s (RUSADA) compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code.

"The LOK’s position remains firm and unchanged-the organization does not support decisions and convenient compromises which, in this geopolitical situation, contradict the fundamental values of the Olympic Movement and may be perceived as a step toward normalizing aggression," the statement emphasized.

The Latvian Olympic Committee will continue to steadfastly defend humanity and the principles of fair play, stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian Olympic Committee and the Baltic states, and will work closely with the national Olympic committees of other countries to coordinate joint action, the statement said.

As reported, the IOC lifted restrictions on Russian athletes on Tuesday, allowing them to participate in team events and qualifying competitions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

For now, the IOC has maintained the ban on playing the Russian national anthem and displaying the Russian flag.

The IOC also stipulated that Russian athletes will have to undergo several doping tests before competing.

Russia’s return to competition remains more restrictive than that of Belarus, which the IOC allowed to return to competition in early May without any restrictions regarding the national anthem or colors.