Baltic States – CIS, Belarus, EU – Baltic States, Forum, Legislation

Lukashenko has led the Belarus Olympic Committee (NOC) for 23 years and won disputed re-election as national president in August, prompting protests throughout the country. The European Union does not recognize his victory.

The IOC said in issuing the ban it had come "to the conclusion that it appears that the current NOC leadership has not appropriately protected the Belarusian athletes from political discrimination within the NOC, their member sports federations or the sports movement."

Lukaschenko's son Viktor was also given a provisional suspension along with the rest of the NOC executive board.

While the IOC has stopped financial support to the Belarus Olympic body, it will continue to pay athletes directly in the build-up to the Tokyo Games and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Belarus' status as co-host of the 2021 Ice Hockey World Championships could come under threat as part of the IOC sanctions.