More than 30 countries have jointly expressed concerns about the International Olympic Committee's proposal to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in international sport competitions on a neutral basis.

The British government hosted an online meeting about the matter on February 10. On Monday, it released a joint statement signed by 34 countries that oppose the IOC's proposal. Britain, the United States, France and Japan were among the signatories. Japan was represented by sports minister Nagaoka Keiko.

The IOC announced last month that it was exploring ways for Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in international competitions as neutral athletes. Sportsmen and women from the two countries have been banned from international events since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began.

The statement expressed strong concerns about the feasibility of allowing Russian and Belarusian Olympic athletes to compete as "neutrals," when they are directly funded and supported by their states. It added that the statement's signatories will not agree to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competitions, unless concrete details are provided about the neutral status of the athletes and certain issues are addressed.

The statement also said, "Russia and Belarus have it in their own hands to pave the way for their athletes' full return to the international sports community, namely by ending the war they started."

Meanwhile, the IOC said in a statement last Wednesday that governments do not decide who can participate in sport competitions.