The International Boxing Federation has announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be permitted to compete in tournaments under a neutral flag. This decision comes with specific conditions aimed at ensuring compliance with international regulations.
According to the federation, competitors from both nations will not represent their countries and must adhere to several stipulations. These include a thorough vetting process conducted by an independent third party to confirm that athletes do not have a history of supporting the war in Ukraine, do not receive funding from military or security forces, are not affiliated with clubs linked to the military or police, and have not participated in events organized by the International Military Sports Council since the onset of the conflict.
All athletes aged 19 and older, along with their coaches and support staff, will be subject to this scrutiny. Additionally, the Russian Boxing Federation’s application for recognized member status has been accepted, allowing it to participate in competitions without voting rights at the congress.
World Boxing was established in 2023 amid tensions between the International Olympic Committee and the International Boxing Association (IBA), which has ties to the Russian government. Unlike the IBA, which has not restricted Russian athletes, World Boxing has received accreditation from the IOC and is expected to organize boxing events at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both countries faced sanctions from the IOC, allowing their athletes to compete only under neutral status. However, since the fall of 2025, sanctions have been lifted in various sports, including water sports, handball, judo, and taekwondo. The International Paralympic Committee has also partially lifted sanctions against athletes from these nations. In some sports, such as chess, youth teams have been allowed to compete under their national flags.
The International Boxing Federation has approved the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in competitions under a neutral flag, contingent on strict compliance checks. This decision follows a broader trend of lifting sanctions in various sports while maintaining scrutiny over athletes' affiliations.
Source: Radio Svoboda