The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that Russian teams, including the ice hockey squad, will remain banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy as part of sanctions following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The ban holds despite recent talks between Russian hockey officials and the International Ice Hockey Federation; the IOC maintains that only individual neutral athletes can participate, not teams.

Some Russian and Belarusian athletes previously competed as neutrals at the 2024 Summer Olympics after strict vetting, and four Russian figure skaters have been approved to attempt qualification as neutral athletes for 2026.

Russia’s ice hockey teams had achieved gold in 2018 and silver in 2022 Winter Olympics before the ban.