issued a decree on April 12 banning all official delegations of national sports teams from participating in international competitions where athletes from Russia or Belarus are present. Aside from banning national teams from participating in competitions with Russian and Belarusian representatives, the Ministry recommended that sports federations “monitor the possible involvement of athletes from the Russian Federation and/or The Republic of Belarus in international sports competitions. urged the IOC to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes to no avail