Bangladesh, March 22 -- The incoming International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Kirsty Coventry, has taken a decisive stance against banning athletes from the Olympics due to their countries involvement in armed conflicts. In an interview with Sky News on March 21, Coventry expressed her belief that such decisions should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis rather than through blanket bans. Additionally, she revealed plans to open discussions on Russias potential return to international sporting competition, marking a potential shift in the IOCs handling of politically sensitive issues.

Coventrys comments represent a notable departure from the IOCs previous policies following Russias escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2...