IOC bans Belarusian President Lukashenko from Olympic Games

PARIS - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to temporally ban Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, also head of Belarus' National Olympic Committee (NOC), from the Olympic Games, IOC President Thomas Bach said on Monday.

"To exclude the currently elected members of the executive board of the NOC of Belarus from all IOC events and activities, including the Olympic Games. This includes, in particular, Mr. Alexander Lukashenko in his capacity as NOC President and legal representative of the NOC, Mr. Viktor Lukashenko in his capacity as NOC First Vice President and the person responsible for the NOC's operations and activities on a daily basis and Mr. Dmitry Baskov in his capacity as NOC executive board member," Bach said during a press conferences following IOC Executive Committee meeting.

"The IOC has come to the conclusion that it appears that the current leadership has not appropriately protected the Belarusian athletes from political discrimination within the NOC, their member federations or the sports movement," Bach added.

"This is contrary to the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter therefore seriously affecting the reputation of the Olympic movement."