MOSCOW, April 23. /TASS/. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is still waiting for a decision from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the participation of Russian ice hockey in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, IIHF President Luc Tardif told TASS on Wednesday. Asked whether there was any news from the IOC about allowing Russia’s men’s and women’s ice hockey teams to play the Olympics in Italy next year, Tardif replied "No." "It’s an IOC decision. Like you we are waiting," he added. A source close to the situation told TASS earlier that the decision on the Russians' participation in the Olympics would be made by April, with Tardif saying that the decision should be made as soon as possible, because among other things Olympics ticket sales depended on it. In early February, the IIHF Council ruled at its session to extend its sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian teams through the 2025-2026 season, with a stipulation that the decision could be revised should the global political situation change. The IIHF Council was expected to decide whether the Russian women and men’s teams would be cleared for the Olympic tournament since Tardif said a year ago that their participation in the Winter Games depended solely on the IIHF. However, following the IIHF Council’s session in February, Tardif announced that it is up to the IOC to decide on whether the Russians will travel to Italy next year. The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Italy, in the cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The event will take place from February 6-22, 2026. IOC sanctions against Russia, Belarus On February 28, 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments, citing Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine as the reason. Following the IOC’s recommendations in late February 2022, the majority of global sports federations decided to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments. In late March, 2023, the IOC recommended to permit individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international sports tournaments, but only under certain conditions. Specifically, athletes from the two countries should not be "actively supporting" Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and must compete under a neutral status. Russia and Belarus were also banned from participating in international team events.