Gymnastics federation lifts all sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes

The International Gymnastics Federation (World Gymnastics) has fully restored the rights of athletes from Russia and Belarus, allowing them to compete under their national flags and with their national anthems played at all international competitions.

The decision was made by the federation’s executive committee at a meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh on May 16–17 and takes effect immediately.

The lifting of restrictions applies to all five disciplines under the federation’s umbrella: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics, and aerobic gymnastics.

Going beyond the IOC’s recommendations

The decision goes further than the position of the International Olympic Committee. On May 6, the IOC lifted the ban on Belarusian athletes’ participation but maintained restrictions on Russia: Russian athletes are still required to compete in neutral status — without national symbols at Olympic competitions. The IOC Executive Board stated that it “no longer recommends any restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes and teams.” World Gymnastics did not make this distinction and fully restored the rights of both countries.

As reported by the Russian state sports agency TASS, citing Yahoo Sports, the Gymnastics Federation of Russia confirmed that domestic athletes are now entitled to compete in national uniforms, under the flag and anthem. Acrobats will be the first to take the floor under the Russian flag — at a World Cup stage scheduled for May 29–31 in Burgas, Bulgaria.

A growing trend amid opposition

This decision places gymnastics alongside a number of other sports federations that have fully restored Russia and Belarus. In April, World Aquatics took a similar step, allowing athletes to compete with national symbols in swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, high diving, and water polo. That move prompted Norway, Poland, and Finland to withdraw from hosting competitions, and the European Aquatics federation requested that the decision’s entry into force be postponed until September.

Not all federations are following this trend. World Athletics rejected the IOC’s recommendation regarding Belarus, stating that sanctions “remain in force” until “substantial progress in peace negotiations.” Ukraine condemned the gymnastics federation’s decision.

Restrictions on Russian and Belarusian gymnasts had been in place since February 2022. Russian gymnasts were initially banned from competition entirely, but from 2024 onward were permitted to compete in neutral status.

The road to Los Angeles

The reinstatement takes on particular significance in the context of the upcoming qualification process for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, which begins this summer. The IOC still prohibits Russian athletes from competing under national symbols at the Games themselves. This means that gymnasts who qualify through World Gymnastics competitions under the Russian flag may find themselves in different conditions at the Olympics. The Russian Olympic Committee remains suspended due to its inclusion of sports organizations from occupied Ukrainian territories.