Key facts
- International Fencing Federation (FIE) lifts all Ukraine conflict-related restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
- Athletes will be allowed to compete under their national flags and anthems.
- The decision takes effect starting with the 2026 Senior World Championships in Hong Kong.
- Russian and Belarusian fencers were previously allowed to compete individually under a neutral flag in March 2023.
- Several other Olympic federations have also lifted bans on athletes from Russia and Belarus.
The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has announced the lifting of all restrictions previously imposed on Russian and Belarusian athletes due to the conflict in Ukraine. These restrictions, which began in 2022, had barred athletes from competing under their national flags and anthems. The FIE's decision, effective from the 2026 Senior World Championships in Hong Kong (July 22-30), aims to uphold the Olympic Charter's principles of non-discrimination and the universality of sport. Previously, Russian and Belarusian fencers were permitted to participate in individual international events under a neutral flag starting in March 2023, with team events set to see similar relaxations in late 2025. This move follows similar decisions by other international sports federations, including gymnastics, judo, taekwondo, aquatic sports, and wrestling, which have also begun readmitting athletes from Russia and Belarus. Russian officials have consistently criticized Western nations for what they perceive as the politicization of sports and undue pressure on federations to exclude their athletes.