NHL and IIHF executives meet in Milan as President Luc Tardif wants Russian and Belarusian players back soon

The men's Olympic hockey tournament is underway in Milan without two of the sport's traditional powers. Russia and Belarus remain banned from international competition due to their involvement in the war in Ukraine, leaving a significant hole in what is supposed to be a best-on-best showcase.

IIHF president Luc Tardif addressed the situation at a press conference on Thursday alongside NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh. Tardif made clear where the federation stands on the matter.

Luc Tardif hopes for Russian return but will follow IOC rules

"We want as soon as possible the Belarusians and the Russians back," Tardif said. "Because first, it will mean that the world will be a little bit better. But we follow the recommendation of the IOC." The absence of Russian players is particularly notable given their recent Olympic success.

The Russians made it to back-to-back finals in the last two editions. While the 2018 PyeongChang games got them the gold, the 2022 edition in Beijing brought them a Silver as the team remains one of the most dominant sides in the sport.

But that dominance didn’t last for long, as in 2022 the IOC banned both Russia and Belarus following the former’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While some athletes from both nations can compete as Individual Neutral Athletes in other sports after rigorous vetting, hockey's team format makes that pathway impossible.

The IOC's March 2023 recommendation stated that "a group of Individual Neutral Athletes cannot be considered a team." The IIHF confirmed it would follow that guidance, effectively shutting the door on Russian and Belarusian hockey participation through at least the 2025-26 season.

Tardif's comments reflect the IIHF's position throughout the ban. The federation has consistently maintained that it follows IOC directives rather than making independent decisions on Russian and Belarusian participation.

The Russian Olympic Committee was suspended by the IOC in October 2023 for recognizing regional Olympic councils in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. That suspension remains in effect, and the IOC has shown no indication of lifting sanctions while the war continues.

For now, the 12-team Olympic tournament proceeds without nations that have combined to win three of the last four Olympic hockey medals. The press conference came on Day 2 of the men's tournament, which features Canada, the United States, Finland, Sweden, and Czechia.


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