Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is banned from attending the Olympic Games as head of his country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) as part of provisional sanctions imposed by the International Olympic Committee, writes Reuters.

The IOC banned two other officials from the NOC, including Lukashenko’s son, Viktor, who is the first vice president of the national Olympic body.

Many Belarussian athletes have written to the IOC demanding urgent action, citing political discrimination and imprisonment by the authorities.

“The IOC has come to the conclusion that it appears that the current leadership has not appropriately protected the Belarussian athletes from political discrimination within the NOC, their member federations or the sports movement”, - said IOC President Thomas Bach.