The UWW has fully reinstated Russia and Belarus' participation in international competitions
United World Wrestling has decided to fully reinstate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in international competitions. This means that athletes from both countries will be allowed to compete in tournaments without restrictions across all age categories.
Russian athletes were suspended from competition from March 2022 to April 2023, after which they competed under “neutral” status. In September 2024, the UWW eased the criteria for allowing Russians and Belarusians to compete under its auspices, and in January 2026, the organization approved the participation of all wrestlers from both countries in the U23 age group under their national flags following a recommendation from the IOC.
Now, however, the UWW has fully reinstated the rights of representatives from Russia and Belarus. Specifically, the organization has allowed wrestlers from these countries to compete under their own flags and national anthems, and has lifted restrictions on team participation in international competitions.
"According to the updated rules of participation, wrestlers from Belarus and Russia will compete under their national flags at all age group levels, including the senior level. The uniforms of athletes and staff may now feature the country codes ‘RUS’ and ‘BLR,’ and the national anthems of both countries will be played during award ceremonies at UWW competitions if their wrestlers win gold medals or the team wins the championship.”
In addition to wrestling, athletes from Russia and Belarus have been allowed to compete under their own flags in all age categories in sambo, judo, and taekwondo. Only at the junior level have sanctions against Russians already been lifted in chess, fencing, and volleyball.
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