World Athletics Maintains Russian and Belarusian Ban

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PARIS: World Athletics has confirmed that its ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors will remain in place four years after the invasion of Ukraine.

The governing body's decision focuses entirely on preserving the integrity and fairness of its global athletic competitions.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe stated that the strict sanctions are being maintained because no tangible movement towards peace negotiations has materialized.

Although a conditional pathway back to international competition has been reviewed, current conflict conditions do not permit lifting the ban.

This unwavering stance directly diverges from other international sports organizations. For instance, World Gymnastics has lifted restrictions on both nations, and the International Skating Union announced that Russians and Belarusians can return as neutral athletes for the 2026-2027 season.

Meanwhile, the conflict severely compromises the training and competition capabilities of Ukrainian athletes. While a dedicated fund established by World Athletics in 2022 helps ameliorate the war's impact, athletes continue to face severe disruption. Coe noted that sports will not stand in the way of a return once an official peace agreement is reached.