IOC explains why its president Bach took a photo with a flag bearer of the Russian army.

The International Olympic Committee commented on the photo of Thomas Bach with Russian athlete Varvara Prokhorova and emphasized that neutral athletes should be treated the same as other participants in competitions.

This week, Varvara Prokhorova met with the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. She published a photo of this meeting on social media.

The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) granted Varvara Prokhorova permission to participate in competitions, allowing her to compete in the World Cup and contend for a spot in the 2026 Olympic Games.

ISMF's website also indicates that Maxim Soldatkin from Russia works in the organization's Office of Ethics and Compliance.

Varvara Prokhorova herself noted that she received support from Maxim Soldatkin in the process of obtaining neutral status.