Kirsty Coventry, the incoming president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on Friday appeared to support Russia's possible return to the global sports competition, stating she would not categorically ban countries from the games over international conflicts.

Russia was most recently banned from the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics because of its ongoing war in Ukraine, which Russia started three years ago. Individual athletes from Russia were allowed to compete independently, but the country could not have a whole team and were excluded from specific team events.

Coventry, who is from Zimbabwe, said it would be hypocritical for her to ban countries from the event over international conflicts when countries in Africa are experiencing similar issues.

“I think you have to take each situation into account,” Coventry, who will assume the IOC presidency in June, told Sky News. “What I would like to do is set up a taskforce, where this taskforce tries to set out some policies and some guiding frameworks that we as the movement can use to make decisions when we are brought into conflicts.”

Coventry did not promise that it would mean Russia would be allowed to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but said she would discuss the matter with the taskforce. 

The development comes after President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the possibility of creating a U.S.-Russia hockey competition to mend diplomatic ties, according to Politico. 

Russia has also been banned from the International Ice Hockey Federation over its invasion of Ukraine.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.