International Gymnastics Federation allows full return of Russia and Belarus athletes
Russian gymnasts will once again hear their national anthem (photo: Getty Images)
The Executive Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (World Gymnastics) has decided to fully lift restrictions on athletes from Russia and Belarus that had been in place since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to the organization’s official website
Return of the flag and anthem
The governing body approved the decision at a meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
This means that Russian and Belarusian athletes — both senior and junior — are returning to the international stage without any restrictions. They will no longer compete under a neutral status: from now on, they may use national symbols, flags, and anthems at all tournaments under the organization’s umbrella.
The return of athletes from the aggressor countries will apply across all disciplines governed by the World Gymnastics:
- Artistic gymnastics;
- Rhythmic gymnastics;
- Trampoline gymnastics;
- Acrobatic gymnastics;
- Aerobic gymnastics.
The first to compete under their national flags will be Russian and Belarusian acrobats and aerobic athletes — their competitions are scheduled for late May to early June. At the end of June, trampoline gymnasts and rhythmic gymnasts will also return to international competitions.
Context and IOC position
The decision of the World Gymnastics Executive Committee was justified by recent steps of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In early May, the IOC recommended that international federations lift restrictions on Belarus.
However, no such recommendation was made regarding Russia. Moreover, the IOC still insists on banning Russians from competing under their national symbols, partly due to a doping investigation by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which led to sanctions against 300 Russian athletes. Despite this, the International Gymnastics Federation went further than the IOC recommendations and fully reinstated both countries.
It should be recalled that since early 2024, gymnasts from Russia and Belarus had competed only under a neutral status, which they also used during qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Capitulation to aggressors
Gymnastics is not the only sport to capitulate to the aggressor countries in May.
Earlier, a similar decision to fully lift sanctions was taken by the International Wrestling Federation (UWW), and in April, restrictions were lifted by the governing body of aquatic sports (World Aquatics).
