The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has officially initiated the procedure to appeal the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne has become the venue for the proceedings triggered by the IOC Executive Board's decision of July 7, 2026, to restore the rights of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

Official filing of the appeal

According to Sport RBC.UA, citing an official statement from the Ukrainian NOC, a document titled "Statement of Appeal" was submitted to CAS on July 28, 2026. This step formally launched the legal process to review the decision of the Swiss organization.

The Ukrainian side insists that the IOC Executive Board's decision is contradictory and ignores established CAS case law. According to experts in the Ukrainian sports community, the IOC failed to take into account key circumstances that, as early as 2023, became the basis for suspending the membership of the Russian committee.

Territorial integrity as the main argument

The central point of the appeal was the premature nature of the IOC's decision. Ukrainian officials pointed to the lack of due verification of the elimination of violations by the Russian side. In particular, this refers to the illegal interference in the territorial jurisdiction of the NOC of Ukraine.

The main evidence of the violation is the inclusion of regional sports organizations based in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in the structure of the ROC. In Kyiv's opinion, this is a direct violation of the principles of the Olympic Charter.

Position of the Ukrainian leadership

The NOC of Ukraine emphasized that filing an appeal is not just a sports procedure, but a defense of state interests. "Filing an appeal is an important step by Ukraine in defending the principles of the Olympic Charter, international law, and the territorial integrity of our state in the international sports environment," the committee noted.

The department also stated that the intention to defend the interests of Ukrainian sports in international courts remains unshakable, despite pressure and changes in regulations.

Context of the IOC decision

Recall that in early July 2026, the International Olympic Committee decided to fully cancel the recommendations that previously significantly limited the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in world tournaments. This decision effectively opened the way for the full return of athletes from aggressor countries to the world Olympic movement, which became the catalyst for the Ukrainian side's reaction.