Poland has confirmed that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be banned from this year’s European Games, which is being hosted in Kraków and its surrounding region in June and July. The decision makes Poland the first country to announce that it will not comply with yesterday’s recommendation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Russians and Belarusians be allowed to return to international competition by competing under a neutral flag. The IOC’s position has been condemned by Poland’s government, which today suggested that it would discuss the possibility of boycotting next year’s Paris Olympics if Russian athletes are allowed to compete.