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  "path": "/sport/winter-olympics/russia-pay-athletes-banned-winter-olympics",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-08T12:12:37.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Premier League icon denies tax dodging after police launch investigation into Deliveroo orders",
    "Lando Norris spotted with model ex-girlfriend just weeks after 'split' as F1 fans left stunned",
    "EFL awards shortlists released with Frank Lampard tipped for major honour",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nThe Russian Olympic Committee has announced it will pay financial compensation to 116 Russian athletes who were prevented from competing at this year's Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.\n\nROC chairman and Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev revealed the decision during a Tuesday meeting with the 13 Russian competitors who did participate at the Games as neutrals.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nDegtyarev said: \"We decided at the executive committee meeting to award monetary bonuses to all Olympic athletes who were unable to travel to the Games due to treacherous political decisions.\"\n\nFollowing Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee barred athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports from competing under their national colours at major international sporting events.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHowever, the IOC established a route for individual competitors to participate as neutrals.\n\nThey were required to use a neutral kit and compete without national flags or anthems.\n\nTo qualify for the Italian Games, athletes were required to pass a rigorous vetting process demonstrating they had never actively supported the conflict in Ukraine and maintained no connections to the military.\n\nJust 13 Russian athletes successfully met these criteria and were cleared to compete at Milano Cortina in February.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nDegtyarev emphasised that both the Ministry of Sport and the ROC were working to secure the complete return of Russian competitors to international events under their national banner and anthem.\n\nHe said: \"Where necessary, we negotiate; where that fails, we defend the athletes' rights in court so that our team can compete for medals with a full roster.\"\n\nThe announcement came during an executive committee session attended by the athletes who had represented Russia as neutrals at the Winter Games.\n\nRussia's sporting authorities have consistently pushed back against the restrictions imposed since the 2022 invasion.\n\n### LATEST SPORT NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * Premier League icon denies tax dodging after police launch investigation into Deliveroo orders\n  * Lando Norris spotted with model ex-girlfriend just weeks after 'split' as F1 fans left stunned\n  * EFL awards shortlists released with Frank Lampard tipped for major honour\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThey have pursued both diplomatic and legal avenues to restore full participation rights.\n\nNikita Filippov secured Russia's sole medal at the Games, claiming silver in ski mountaineering during the sport's Olympic debut.\n\nThe Winter Paralympics in March saw a notable shift.\n\nSix Russian and four Belarusian athletes were permitted to compete under their national flags for the first time since 2014.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIt came after the International Paralympic Committee's decision to lift its suspension of both nations in September.\n\nFurther changes may be on the horizon.\n\nSpeculation that restrictions could be eased under new IOC president Kirsty Coventry would potentially allow Russian and Belarusian competitors to return to full national representation as early as the 2028 Los Angeles Games.\n\nGB News has approached the IOC for comment.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Russia announces pay for athletes banned from Winter Olympics in controversial move"
}