The International Olympic Committee (IOC) takes new steps to allow Russian athletes a clearer path to participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. According to multiple outlets, the IOC provisionally lifts its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and tells Olympic sport federations to end a three-year program that has been vetting Russian athletes for neutral status. The IOC says the change is timed to coincide with the start of Olympic qualifying events for the Los Angeles Games, and that it is necessary to provide equal access to these competitions for all athletes. The reports describe the vetting program as covering Russian athletes seeking to compete without representing Russia under its flag and anthem. One outlet also notes that far fewer athletes from Russia and Belarus competed as neutrals at the 2024 Paris Olympics than at earlier Games, citing that Russia had more than 300 athletes at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Overall, the outlets agree the IOC’s guidance is directed at sports governing bodies and is intended to adjust eligibility and participation processes ahead of qualifying for 2028.