The International Olympic Committee has recommended banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competition.

The IOC released a statement after holding an executive board meeting on Monday, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It recommended that "International Sports Federations and sports event organizers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions."

If their exclusion is impossible for legal or other reasons, the IOC urges organizers "to ensure that no athlete or sports official from Russia or Belarus be allowed to take part under the name of Russia or Belarus."

In such a case, it added that Russian or Belarusian nationals should be accepted only as neutral athletes or neutral teams, and should not be allowed to use national anthems, flags, colors or other symbols.

The committee also touched on the Beijing Winter Paralympics, which is set to open on March 4. It said it fully supports the International Paralympic Committee and the Games.

The IOC said it would not "punish athletes for the decisions of their government if they are not actively participating in them," and that it is committed to "fair competitions for everybody without any discrimination."

But the IOC said the war has put it in a dilemma. It said, "While athletes from Russia and Belarus would be able to continue to participate in sports events, many athletes from Ukraine are prevented from doing so because of the attack on their country."

The committee decided to withdraw the Olympic Order -- the highest honor granted by the IOC -- from Russian President Vladimir Putin and other two senior government officials. It cited the "extremely grave violation of the Olympic Truce and other violations of the Olympic Charter by the Russian government in the past."