Russia's return to global sports gathers momentum as EU mulls response

The EU is addressing concerns over Russia's use of sports for reputation laundering amid ongoing military aggression. Recent events show Russia advancing its sports agenda, including Lithuania losing its right to host a pentathlon tournament and Moscow being awarded the 2030 weightlifting championship. EU officials express disappointment and call for stricter measures against Russian and Belarusian athletes. The EU plans to propose actions to maintain Russia's isolation in global sports, but the timeline for these measures remains unclear. Meanwhile, Russia continues its lobbying efforts in the sports arena, despite the ongoing war's devastating impact on Ukraine's sports community.