Worldwide Judo Federation drops ban on Russian athletes competing underneath their nationwide flag

The Worldwide Judo Federation has determined to permit Russian athletes to compete underneath their nationwide flag once more in its competitions beginning this weekend, the IJF mentioned Thursday, regardless of the continuing conflict in Ukraine that, for years, had compelled them to participate underneath a impartial banner.

The IJF government committee voted to “reinstate full nationwide illustration” of Russian athletes, with their anthem and symbols, starting with the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, collaborating from Nov. 28 – 30.

“Athletes don’t have any accountability for the selections of governments or different nationwide establishments, and it’s our obligation to guard the game and our athletes,” the IJF mentioned in an announcement.

Contacted by CBS Information, the IJF declined to supply any additional clarification for the reversal in coverage.

Following President Vladimir Putin’s orders to launch the continuing full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 — escalating the conflict he refers to as solely a “particular army operation” — many Russian athletes have been banned from getting into competitions in varied sports activities, or barred from competing underneath the Russian flag. 

The Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended since 2023 by the Worldwide Olympic Committee for breaking the Olympic constitution through the use of an administrative land seize to include regional sports activities our bodies in occupied jap Ukraine.

Russians shall be allowed to compete at subsequent yr’s Milan-Cortina Winter Video games, however the IOC will keep the system it used on the 2024 Paris Video games, allowing them to compete solely as particular person, impartial athletes, not for Workforce Russia.

Sergey Soloveychik, president of the Russian judo federation, praised what he referred to as an “historic resolution.”

“Because of the IJF for this long-awaited, truthful and brave resolution,” he mentioned in an announcement.

The IJF mentioned it had beforehand reinstated full nationwide illustration for Belarusian athletes. Belarus has allowed Moscow to make use of its territory as a staging floor for the invasion of Ukraine, and later allowed the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles on its soil.

The IJF mentioned it now considers it “acceptable to permit the participation of Russian athletes underneath equal circumstances,” emphasizing that the game “can not permit itself to grow to be a platform for geopolitical agendas.”

“Traditionally, Russia has been a number one nation in world judo, and their full return is predicted to complement competitors in any respect ranges whereas upholding the IJF’s ideas of equity, inclusivity and respect,” the federation mentioned.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is a eager judoka and attended occasions within the sport on the 2012 London Olympics.

Quickly after Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, nonetheless, the IJC stripped the Russian chief of his most senior title in world sports activities.

The IJF cited “the continuing conflict battle in Ukraine” in suspending Putin’s honorary president standing within the federation, and Soloveychik, who on the time was president of the European Judo Union, resigned from his submit.