Russia in the Olympic Movement: the Evolution of Russia's Sports Diplomacy in the Context of the Politicization of International Sports

The subject of the research is the current state of the Russian Federation's participation in the international Olympic movement and the transformation of the role of sports amid the escalating politicization of global relations. The article examines the historical evolution of Russia's sports diplomacy – from its first steps at the end of the 19th century and the Soviet Union's participation in the Olympic movement to the modern restrictive measures imposed by international sports organizations. Special attention is given to analyzing the causes and consequences of the exclusion of Russian athletes from international competitions, the legal grounds for the decisions of the IOC, WADA, and other institutions, as well as the assessment of the compliance of these decisions with the principles of the Olympic Charter. The research encompasses the current context of geopolitical tensions, including the impact of sanctions policies, discriminatory practices, and international disputes on the development of sports and the prospects for Russian athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The methodology of the study includes the concepts of "soft power" and sports diplomacy, the theory of international relations, and the approach of institutional analysis, as well as methods of comparative-historical analysis and scenario forecasting, which allow for a comprehensive assessment of the dynamics of international processes in the field of sports. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive evaluation of international sanction mechanisms in the field of sports as a tool of geopolitical pressure, as well as in revealing contradictions between the officially declared principles of the Olympic Charter and the actual practices of international sports organizations. This work systematically organizes key decisions of the IOC, WADA, CAS, and various sports federations for the first time in the context of their influence on the Russian sports community. Conclusions are made that the existing system of international sports law is experiencing a crisis of objectivity and neutrality, which reinforces the trend towards the fragmentation of the global sports space. It is shown that the prospects for Russia's participation in the 2026 Games remain limited; however, changes are possible in the event of a de-escalation of political tensions and the reform of international sports institutions.

Olympic movement, sports diplomacy, international sports law, politicization of sports, sanctions, IOC, WADA, Russia, neutral status, Olympic Games