ATHLETES from Russia and Belarus have now been banned from participating in the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, China, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced on Thursday, amid Russia's continued invasion and bombardment of several cities in Ukraine.

'Following a specially convened meeting, the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board has decided to refuse the athlete entries from the RPC and NPC Belarus for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games,' the IPC announced in a statement. 'This means that para athletes from these respective countries will no longer be allowed to participate in the Games, which open on March 4, 2022.'