Russian teams, including the country’s powerful hockey side, remain banned from competing at the Milano-Cortina Olympics next February as part of sanctions imposed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the International Olympic Committee said Tuesday.

The IOC was responding to reports out of Russia that hockey officials from the country had held talks with the International Ice Hockey Federation over Olympic participation.

“The IOC executive board recommendation from March 2023 with regard to teams of athletes with a Russian passport remains in place,” the IOC said.

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