The International Olympic Committee has called on governing bodies of all sports to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from participating in any organised international competitions.

The executive board of the Olympic committee came up with this decision after its meeting on Monday, according to a statement on the committee website.

“In order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants, the IOC EB recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions,” the statement reads in part.

The IOC also recommended that no international sport event is organised in Russia, while withdrawing “the Olympic Order from all persons who currently have an important function in the government of the Russian Federation or other government-related high-ranking position including the following:

“Mr Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation (Gold, 2001), Mr Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation (Gold, 2014), and Mr Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office (Gold, 2014).”

This comes as another sanction was slammed at Russia for its invasion of Ukraine since last week Thursday.

On Friday, the UEFA executive committee moved the venue of the final of the 2022 Champions League from St Petersburg to Paris, and Manchester United cancelled its sponsorship deal with Russian airline Aeroflot.

Also, UK lawmakers proposed ban on Russian billionaire owner of Chelsea FC, forced Roman Abramovich to surrender control of the football club.