Russia's sports exile and the controversy surrounding 'neutral' Russian athletes

It has been a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, starting a conflict which shows no signs of ending any time soon. The effects of the war have been felt far beyond the battlefields with even sports not being spared. For the past year, Russia has remained excluded from many international sporting competitions, losing hosting rights as well as rights to compete. Just four days after the first Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had recommended excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes from events "to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all…