Nine EU nations urge funding cuts for Olympic bodies over Russia readmission

Nine European Union nations have asked the bloc to cut funding to sports bodies that readmitted Russian and Belarusian athletes.

• Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden sent a proposal to the European Commissioner calling for funding cuts to the IOC, World Aquatics and FIE.
• The IOC executive board provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee on July 7, noting previous restrictions no longer applied.
• The nine nations said allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes back ignores the reality of Ukrainian competitors unable to train equally due to war.
• The proposal also called for limiting the involvement of noncompliant sports bodies in European sports forums and development discussions.