GENEVA: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday urged sports federations and organizers to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from international events following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Just hours later, FIFA kicked Russia out of the 2022 World Cup as football's global governing body and UEFA joined forces to expel Russian national teams and clubs from all international competitions.

Russia was due to take part in World Cup play-offs this month but plans to play on neutral territory were dismissed as "unacceptable" by their rivals Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. "Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine," FIFA and UEFA said in a statement. Rugby's world governing body banned Russia and Belarus from all international rugby "until further notice" on Tuesday. Russia's membership of World Rugby was also suspended indefinitely, meaning the country's slim hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup in France are over. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Monday also cancelled all sanctioned tournaments in Russia and Belarus, banned them from hosting future tournaments "until further notice" and ordered their flags and anthems banned from all BWF tournaments.