Belarus is still hoping to compete at next year's Olympics in Paris but officials have warned it will not be under any conditions ©Getty Images

Belarus National Olympic Committtee (NOCRB) President Viktor Lukashenko has reassured athletes at a forum in Minsk that NOCRB officials are continuing efforts to enable them to compete at next year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris but warned that there was a "red line" that they would not cross.

“The question is not only about symbolism, there are a number of conditions,” Lukashenko, the eldest son of Belarus President Alexander, told the official state press service Belarusian Telegraph Agency. 

"There should be some definite red line that we cannot cross, only with respect for our country, our athletes, we will be able to take part in these competitions. 

"We don’t rush headlong into the pool if only ours were allowed in. 

"There are certain moments in which we will never step over ourselves,

"We all heard the statement of the International Olympic Committee, where there have been some kind of warming, movement, from our point of view, in the right direction,"

He insisted that dialogue was continuing with International Federations.

"As for the Olympics, there is no talk of qualifying yet, only about international competitions,” he added.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko had also been NOCRB President before he was succeeded by his son ©Getty Images
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko had also been NOCRB President before he was succeeded by his son ©Getty Images

Earlier this month his father, had seemed to indicate that he would “tolerate and endure” participation under a neutral flag.

Before the Ukraine war, Belarus were permitted to compete under their own flag, but both Alexander Lukashenko and his son were personally banned by the IOC from attending the Tokyo Games.

Viktor Lukashenko had been made NOCRB President in succession to his father in an process not recognised by the IOC.

The ban on father and son was imposed after athletes protesting against the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko as State President had been imprisoned or denied facilities to train.

The IOC ruled that leadership of the NOCRB had "not appropriately protected the Belarusian athletes from political discrimination within the NOC, their member sports federations or the sports movement."

Belarus sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya alleged that at Tokyo 2020 secret agents from her country tried to forcibly remove her after she had criticised team coaches ©Getty Images
Belarus sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya alleged that at Tokyo 2020 secret agents from her country tried to forcibly remove her after she had criticised team coaches ©Getty Images

At the re-arranged 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Belarusian agents attempted to remove sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya from Japan against her will after she had criticised coaches. 

Last month the Belarus supreme court confirmed 12-year prison sentences handed down in absentia to Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund founders Aliaksandra Herasimenia and Aliaksandr Apeikin.

They had established the group in exile to support athletes who faced pressure, intimidation or exclusion for voicing their opposition to the Lukashenko regime.