The Canadian government on November 3 reaffirmed its position against athletes representing Russia and Belarus competing under their national flags, anthems or other state symbols at international sporting events. The policy also applies to sporting events that receive Canadian government funding.
The official statement nevertheless allows individual Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Canada as neutral participants. It is not a blanket ban on all citizens of the two countries taking part in competitions.
According to the statement, Canada's minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship will use immigration-law powers to assess, case by case, entry by athletes and officials seeking to compete under Russian or Belarusian national symbols.
Canada linked its continued restrictions to Russia's war against Ukraine and Belarus's involvement. The statement sets out Canadian government policy, not an international sports federation's ruling on eligibility for a particular tournament.