No Russian or Belarusian equestrian athletes in Paris 2024, says governing body FEI

Earlier this month the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the participation of Russians and Belarusians who qualify in their sport for the 2024 Olympics as neutrals without flags, emblems or anthems.

Russians and Belarusians had initially been banned from competing internationally following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, for which Belarus has been used as a staging ground.

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) has prohibited Russian and Belarusian athletes, horses and officials from participating in its events since last year.

"According to the Olympic Qualification Systems for Equestrian, individual qualification is secured through the FEI Olympic Rankings... from January 1st 2023 to December 31st 2023," the FEI said on Thursday.

"Since Russian and Belarusian athletes have not competed in FEI Events since March 2nd 2022, no representatives of these nations will take part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games."

The measures prohibiting participation of athletes from the two countries remain in place going into next year, the FEI said.

"No FEI Events organised in Russia and Belarus can be entered in the FEI Calendar for 2024," the statement added.