The International Olympic Committee lifted the ban on Belarus but not Russia

IOC President Kirsty Coventry suggested, outsider Russia could compete in the Games in two years in Los Angeles in February.

But the IOC has decided that the doping problem does not mean it is ready to lift the country’s ban.

It explained that, unlike Russia, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus “is in good standing and complies with the Olympic Charter”.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently announced that more than 300 bans had been handed out to Russian athletes in 2019 following the seizure of data from a Moscow laboratory.

“While the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) has had constructive exchanges with the IOC regarding its suspension, it remains suspended while the IOC Legal Affairs Commission continues to review the matter,” the IOC said.

“The IOC EB (Executive Board) has noted with concern recent information that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has looked into the Russian anti-doping system.

“The IOC EB would therefore like to have a better understanding of this situation.”

In September, the International Paralympic Committee lifted the ban on athletes from Belarus and Russia competing in the Winter Paralympics earlier this year, while World Aquatics announced that athletes from the two countries would be able to compete under their national flags.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggested in February that soccer’s world governing body would look at lifting sanctions on Russia, a move that Ukrainian Sports Minister Matvyi Bidny called “irresponsible” and “childish.”