The Executive Board of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) has approved a decision allowing Belarusian athletes and teams to fully represent their country in UIPM-sanctioned competitions. This move, made on May 12, marks the first implementation of recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding Belarusian athletes.
Starting next week, Belarusian competitors will be able to participate under their national flag and wear their national uniforms in UIPM events. This decision follows earlier IOC recommendations issued in March 2023, which permitted Belarusian athletes to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN).
On May 7, 2026, the IOC recommended lifting all restrictions on Belarusian athletes and teams in international sports, prompting UIPM to revoke its limitations. The new policy is effective immediately and applies to all UIPM competitions, with the exception of the upcoming World Cup in Pazardzhik.
Belarusian athletes are set to compete in their national colors at the UIPM World Cup in Budapest, scheduled from June 9 to 13, 2026. Meanwhile, the AIN status for Russian athletes remains unchanged.
This decision reflects a broader trend among international sports organizations to restore Belarus’s full participation rights in global sports. In recent months, several international federations have begun easing or lifting restrictions on Belarusian athletes, including in aquatic sports and handball.
On May 7, the IOC also rescinded previous conditions for Belarus’s participation in competitions. The IOC stated that the situation regarding the Belarusian National Olympic Committee differs from that of the Russian Olympic Committee. “The NOC of Belarus has a good reputation and adheres to the Olympic Charter,” the IOC explained.
While the IOC’s recommendations guide participation, individual organizers and international federations retain the authority to decide on the inclusion of Belarusian athletes in their events. For instance, World Athletics has maintained its suspension of Belarusian athletes from its competitions, emphasizing that a significant shift towards peaceful negotiations regarding Ukraine is necessary before reconsidering its stance.
World Athletics stated, “Our Council has made a clear decision: only when there is a real shift towards peace talks can we begin to review our decisions. We all hope this will happen soon, but for now, the Council remains united in supporting the decision made in March 2022 and reaffirmed in 2023 and 2025.”
The UIPM has lifted restrictions on Belarusian athletes, allowing them to compete under their national flag. This follows IOC recommendations and reflects a trend of easing restrictions across various sports.
Source: Radio Free Europe