The IOC lifted its recommended outright ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes in March, allowing them to return to international sport in individual events if they have not supported the war in Ukraine and are not affiliated to the military.

This sparked an angry reaction in Ukraine and several of its leading allies, who have claimed there should be no place in sport for Russia or Belarus while the war is ongoing.

The IOC has said its stance represents a "middle ground" given criticism in Russia and Belarus towards the conditions of participation, and has claimed it has been supported by the "vast majority of the international community" while describing Government opposition to its stance as "deplorable".

Most sports have adhered to the IOC's recommendations, but some including athletics and equestrian, led by IOC members, have maintained their initial stances.

The IOC has stressed it has not taken a final decision on whether Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Organised by the IOC Athletes' Commisssion, led by Finland's Emma Terho, the 11^th edition of the International Athletes' Forum is set to be the first held in-person since 2019, after the 2021 edition was held virtually.

Chairs of Athletes' Commissions from 206 National Olympic Committees and 40 International Federations were invited, along with representatives from equivalent bodies in Organising Committees for future Olympics, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), International Paralympic Committee, Recognised Federations, the World Olympians Association (WOA) and IOC Athletes' Entourage Commission.

However, Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Athletes' Commission deputy chair Lada Zadonskaya has claimed her country will not be represented because her application was rejected.

"I was denied registration for the forum; the IOC explained this by the principles set out in the March recommendations of the organisation’s Executive Committee," Zadonskaya told Russian state-run news agency TASS.

"Since this happened quite late, we no longer had the opportunity to send anyone else from our commission to Lausanne.

"Therefore, at the Forum in Lausanne, a representative there won’t be any from Russia."

The IOC confirmed to insidethegames "the registration of Lada Zadonskaya as the proposed ROC athlete representative at the International Athletes’ Forum 2023 could not be processed based on principles outlined in the IOC Executive Board’s recommendations dated 28 March 2023", but said "the ROC Athletes’ Commission had been invited to propose another member to attend the forum".

The IOC Athletes' Commission includes Russia's two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva, who resumed her role despite being placed on Ukraine's sanctions list for alleged ties to the Kremlin, insisting she has "never been in the service of the armed forces".

The International Athletes' Forum is due to begin with a preliminary day tomorrow, featuring meetings between the IOC Athletes' Commission and its counterparts from Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and WADA.

The first day proper on Sunday (October 1) is set to begin with an update from the IOC Athletes' Commission, a keynote speech, and a breakout session and panel discussion on how to run an effective Athletes' Commission.

The 45-minute discussion on the status of Russian and Belarusian athletes is set to be held on the first day, followed by discussions on how athletes can give back to causes they care about and an update from the WOA.

Day two on Monday (October 2) begins with a legends chat with IOC Athletes' Commission member and three-time Olympic basketball medallist Pau Gasol of Spain, Alpine skiing Olympic gold medallist Lindsey Vonn of the US and her compatriot and 11-time Olympic sprinting medallist Allyson Felix about what it means to be an Olympian.

Upcoming editions of the Olympics are set to be discussed, followed by athlete rights, clean sport and integrity, a keynote speech and workshops about safeguarding and a question-and-answer session with IOC President Thomas Bach of Germany to conclude the Forum.