The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed on Tuesday that Russian teams will remain banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics, officially closing the door on NHL star Alex Ovechkin. 

The IOC released a statement following comments from International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President Luc Tardif. 

"The IOC Executive Board recommendation from March 2023 with regard to teams of athletes with a Russian passport remains in place," the statement read, via Reuters. 

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"It is based on the fact that, by definition, a group of Individual Neutral Athletes cannot be considered a team. We take note that the IIHF has confirmed that it will follow this recommendation."

Speaking on the final day of the IIHF World Championship over the weekend, Tardif was asked about the possibility of Russian athletes competing in the upcoming Winter Games. He said that while a final decision had not been made, the belief was that the IOC would continue to uphold its ban. 

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"Recently they asked us to send them a schedule without Russia, so that’s where we are," Tardif said, via TheHockeyNews.com. "The official statement is pending, but the IOC has told us that they are informing the Russian Olympic Committee that they are not participating in the Olympics."

The ban was put into place following the full military invasion of Ukraine which started in February 2022, four days after the Beijing Winter Games closed. A select few athletes were able to compete in the Paris Olympics as neutral athletes following a vetting process. 

The NHL announced last year that players would be able to compete in the 2026 and 2030 Games for the first time since 2014, but Tuesday’s announcement shut the door to any Russian players hoping to compete – including Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. 

Earlier this month, four Russian figure skaters were approved for qualification by the International Skating Union to compete as neutral athletes. No Russian skaters were approved to compete in the pairs and ice dance disciplines.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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U.S. President Donald Trump purported on Tuesday that Canada was "considering" giving up its statehood in exchange for protection by the proposed "Golden Dome" missile defense system at no cost, despite Canadian officials repeatedly stating that the country is not for sale.

"I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"They are considering the offer!" he claimed.

Trump has threatened in recent months to annex Canada, an idea fiercely rebuked by Canadian officials and their citizens.

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Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, who secured an election win last month in part due to Canadians' opposition to Trump's wish to make the country part of the U.S., told Trump earlier this month that his country "won't be for sale, ever."

King Charles III, who is recognized as Canada's sovereign, gave a speech before the Canadian Parliament on Tuesday in which he appeared to reject Trump's idea of purchasing the North American country and making it the 51st U.S. state.

"Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away," he said. "And that, by staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians."

As for the "Golden Dome," Trump announced last week that the U.S. had officially selected the architecture for the missile defense system that would create a network of satellites to detect, track and potentially intercept incoming ballistic missiles.

The U.S. president said the project would cost $175 billion to build and that it was expected to be "fully operational" within three years. He also said Canada would be included in its safety net.

"Canada has called us, and they want to be a part of it. So we’ll be talking to them; they want to have protection also," Trump said at the time.

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Carney’s office said last week that there were "active discussions" between the U.S. and Canada on current and new security programs, including the "Golden Dome."

"Canadians gave the prime minister a strong mandate to negotiate a comprehensive new security and economic relationship with the United States," a spokesperson for Carney told BBC News.

"To that end, the prime minister and his ministers are having wide-ranging and constructive discussions with their American counterparts. These discussions naturally include strengthening [North American Aerospace Defense Command] and related initiatives such as the Golden Dome," the spokesperson continued.