Russia Ukraine war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the media at joint press conference with Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger, Moldova's President Maia Sandu, Slovenia's Prime Minister Robert Golob and Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic during Bucha Summit in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Polish president Duda hails a European Games without Russia

By Graham Dunbar Apr. 03, 2023 04:29 PM EDT

FILE - A women's singles table tennis match is being played at the 2012 Summer Olympics, on July 31, 2012, in London. Table tennis’ governing body plans to allow Russian players back into its events on advice from the International Olympic Committee. The decision by the International Table Tennis Federation paves the way for players from Russia and its ally Belarus to end a year-long exclusion from competitions during Russia’s war in Ukraine.(AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)
Table tennis plans to allow Russians back, on IOC advice

Mar. 30, 2023 12:24 PM EDT

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, right, speaks at the opening of the executive board meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. The IOC Executive Board is set to discuss the results of consultations regarding the status of athletes from Russia and Belarus in its meeting set to run until March 30. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)
IOC details advice to let Russia, Belarus athletes return

By Graham Dunbar And James Ellingworth Mar. 28, 2023 10:59 AM EDT

FILE - Canada's Alex Bilodeau celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's moguls final at the 2014 Winter Olympics, on Feb. 10, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. A group of 42 retired Canadian Olympians, including Bilodeau, urged the Canadian Olympic Committee Wednesday, March 8, 2023, to reject the idea of allowing Russians to participate in next year's Paris Games. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
Canadian Olympians push for opposition to Russians in Paris

By Eddie Pells Mar. 08, 2023 09:10 PM EST

FILE - The Olympic rings are set up at Trocadero plaza that overlooks the Eiffel Tower, a day after the official announcement that the 2024 Summer Olympic Games will be in the French capital, in Paris, France, on Sept. 14, 2017. One year after the invasion of Ukraine began, Russia's reintegration into the world of sports threatens to create the biggest rift in the Olympic movement since the Cold War.(AP Photo//Michel Euler, File)
Paris Olympics sports bodies seek IOC clarity on Russia

By Graham Dunbar Mar. 03, 2023 11:42 AM EST

Ukrainian sisters Maryna, left, and Vladyslava Aleksiiva speak during a practice session, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. The path to the 2024 Paris Olympics for Ukrainian athletes is clouded by war, anger and pain. Russian bombardments have wrecked training venues. Air raids disrupt training sessions. Athletes have lost family members and friends. Or they worry that they will. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
War, anger cloud Ukrainian athletes' path to Paris Olympics

By John Leicester Mar. 02, 2023 02:33 AM EST

FILE - Ukraine supporters unfurl a "Stop War" banner on the stands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Ukraine and Armenia, in Lodz, Poland, on June 11, 2022. One year after the invasion of Ukraine began, Russia's reintegration into the world of sports threatens to create the biggest rift in the Olympic movement since the Cold War. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk)
Armenia vs Ukraine 6/11/2022

Feb. 22, 2023 09:28 AM EST

FILE - Leicester's goalkeeper and Denmark international Kasper Schmeichel wears a T-shirt, saying 'Football Stands United - No War' with the flag of Ukraine on it, as he warms up prior to the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Leicester City at Turf Moor stadium in Burnley, England, on March 1, 2022. The players were wearing the shirts in protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. One year after the invasion of Ukraine began, Russia's reintegration into the world of sports threatens to create the biggest rift in the Olympic movement since the Cold War. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Leicester City vs Burnley FC 3/1/2022

Feb. 22, 2023 09:28 AM EST

FILE - Ukraine supporters unfurl a "Stop War" banner on the stands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Ukraine and Armenia, in Lodz, Poland, on June 11, 2022. One year after the invasion of Ukraine began, Russia's reintegration into the world of sports threatens to create the biggest rift in the Olympic movement since the Cold War. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk)
Russia's sports exile persists 1 year after invading Ukraine

By The Associated Press Feb. 22, 2023 09:25 AM EST

Vadym Gutzeit, Ukraine's Youth and Sport Minister and President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, talks during an interview with The Associated Press in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Gutzeit has pushed for a total ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Paris Games in an interview with The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ukrainian Olympic head on Russian rival: 'He is my enemy'

By John Leicester And Hanna Arhirova Feb. 15, 2023 05:13 AM EST

Elina Svitolina talks during an interview with The Associated Press in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Ukrainian tennis player and Olympic bronze medalist Elina Svitolina has pushed for a total ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Paris Games in an interview with The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
ATP Challenger Vilnius, Lithuania Men Singles

Feb. 08, 2023 10:28 AM EST

Elina Svitolina talks during an interview with The Associated Press in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Ukrainian tennis player and Olympic bronze medalist Elina Svitolina has pushed for a total ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Paris Games in an interview with The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Svitolina calls for Russians to be banned from Olympics

By Hanna Arhirova Feb. 08, 2023 10:27 AM EST

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, centre, attends a joint news conference with Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, right, and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte during their meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. The prime ministers of the three Baltic countries meet in Tallinn to discuss, among other things, joint aid efforts for Ukraine. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Ukraine pushes to exclude Russia from 2024 Paris Olympics

By Hanna Arhirova Feb. 03, 2023 08:26 AM EST

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during a ceremony to sign the treaties for four regions of Ukraine to join Russia, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. The signing of the treaties making the four regions part of Russia follows the completion of the Kremlin-orchestrated "referendums." (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
IOC's Bach eyes return to sports for anti-war Russians

By Graham Dunbar Sep. 30, 2022 11:31 AM EDT

Ukraine boycotts judo Olympic qualifier as Russians compete

Jun. 24, 2022 12:16 PM EDT
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (AP) — Ukraine has begun a boycott of international judo events because the Russian team was allowed to compete as Olympic qualification began...

FILE - Evgeny Rylov of the Russian Olympic Committee poses with his gold medal for the men's 100-meter backstroke final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. A statement from swimming's world governing body, FINA, on Thursday, April 21, 2022, announced that Rylov has been banned from the sport for nine months for appearing at a rally in support of President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
Russian swimmer Rylov banned for appearing at Putin rally

Apr. 22, 2022 03:39 PM EDT

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives to deliver his speech at the concert marking the eighth anniversary of the referendum on the state status of Crimea and Sevastopol and its reunification with Russia, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 18, 2022. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian Olympians face backlash after Vladimir Putin rally

Mar. 23, 2022 07:26 AM EDT

FILE - IAAF President Sebastian Coe attends a press conference ahead of the Doha IAAF Diamond League in Doha, Qatar, May 2, 2019. Olympic great Sebastian Coe said Monday March 14, 2022, sports federations must remain firm to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes out of competitions following the invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
Sebastian Coe says sports must fight to keep Russia banned

By Chris Lehourites Mar. 14, 2022 12:10 PM EDT

Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold of Norway sports a headband reading No War Please as she competes in the Biathlon 4x6 km relay women's World Cup competition, in Kontiolahti, Finland, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)
Reading FC Women vs Arsenal WFC 3/2/2022

Mar. 04, 2022 11:04 AM EST

Artem Pryma of Ukraine, right, tags teammate Dmytro Pidruchnyi during the biathlon 4x6-kilometer mixed relay at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Ukrainian athletes join military after Russian invasion

By James Ellingworth Mar. 02, 2022 06:47 AM EST