Athletes from the Russian Federation are allowed to start under their own flag again. What you need to know

Russian gymnasts were allowed to compete in international tournaments with a flag and an anthem. Admission applies to all five types of gymnastics and all age categories of athletes. Shortly before that, similar restrictions were lifted from Russian wrestlers. Who else of the athletes is returning and in what status the rest of the national teams are in the Izvestia article.

The return of the gymnasts

• The International Gymnastics Federation (World Gymnastics) has allowed Russian athletes to compete in tournaments again under its auspices with national symbols. The decision was made on May 17 at a meeting of the organization's executive committee in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Now Russian gymnasts will be able to participate in competitions with a flag and an anthem in all disciplines supervised by the federation: sports and rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline jumping, sports acrobatics and sports aerobics. Previously, athletes competed under a neutral status, which was awarded subject to strict criteria set by the federation.

• Mikhail Degtyarev, Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation and head of the Russian Olympic Committee, linked this decision to the work on the reform of gymnastics in the country. In 2024, a unified Gymnastics Federation was created in Russia, combining all five areas according to the World Gymnastics model. The first tournament for Russian gymnasts with a flag and anthem will be the Acrobatics World Cup in Bulgaria, which will be held from May 29 to 31, and the first World Championships will be the Rhythmic Gymnastics championship, scheduled from August 12 to August 16 in Germany.

• So far, the decision to fully reinstate Russian gymnasts does not apply to European-level competitions hosted by the European Gymnastics Union. Athletes must compete under a neutral flag. However, a meeting of the federation's executive committee will be held in the near future, at which the decision of the higher-level World Gymnastics may be approved. If it is accepted, the Russian national team will return fully at the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, which will start on May 27.

The recovery trend

• This is the third time recently that a major Olympic sports federation has lifted all restrictions on Russian athletes imposed after February 2022. Shortly before full admission to gymnastic sports, the United World of Wrestling (UWW), which holds freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling competitions, did the same. The UWW previously allowed athletes to compete in a neutral status and did not impose restrictions on wrestlers under the age of 23.

• In April, the Russian symbols were returned by the International Aquatics Federation (World Aquatics), which organizes competitions in swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming. It is the most medal-winning Olympic federation, having won awards in 55 disciplines at the Olympic Games. World Aquatics has become a pioneer in admitting Russians to team sports, which has not yet been done by any federation in gaming sports. At the same time, its European division has so far refused to allow Russians except as neutral athletes.

• International taekwondo and judo federations, as well as organizations overseeing non-Olympic sambo, kickboxing and Muay Thai, have also allowed performances under the Russian flag. There are no restrictions from the International Boxing Association (IBA), however, it is not recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The alternative organization World boxing allows Russians to participate in tournaments only as neutrals.

• Some sports federations allow only juniors to compete under the Russian flag in their sports, while allowing adults in a neutral status. These include equestrian sports, modern pentathlon, triathlon, weightlifting, fencing and ski mountaineering. Juniors also compete under their own flag in volleyball, curling, field hockey, baseball and chess, but adult Russians are prohibited from competing in them.

• A number of federations allow Russians to start only without national symbols. These include organizations for badminton, cycling, all types of rowing, table tennis, sailing, rock climbing, skateboarding, archery, skiing, luge, bobsleigh and skeleton, as well as commercial associations in tennis. A total ban remains in place in basketball, athletics, rugby, surfing, soccer, biathlon, speed skating, figure skating, and hockey.

Return to the Olympics

• At the same time, the International Olympic Committee follows its own course. On May 7, the executive committee of the organization confirmed the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, due to which athletes can compete at the Olympic Games only in a neutral status. The IOC also retained the recommendation to the federations to allow Russian athletes in a neutral status (the committee cannot directly tell them). At the same time, the IOC allowed Belarusian athletes to be admitted in full.

• The IOC explained its decision to maintain the status quo in Russia by the delay in the work of the legal commission and the need for additional study of ROC documents. The IOC talks about a "constructive dialogue" with the Russian side, but it does not specify a time frame for lifting the suspension.

• The decision on suspension was made in October 2023 after the inclusion of new territories in the ROC regional Olympic Councils. The appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was rejected in February 2024. Later, the ROC announced changes to the charter and the exclusion of regional structures in January 2025, but the IOC did not respond by reinstating it.

• The IOC also expresses "concern" about separate investigations by the World Anti-Doping Agency and publications about the Russian anti-doping system. At the same time, the organization states that this issue is not formally related to the restoration of OCD. Degtyarev has already noted that the legal grounds for suspension have been eliminated.