International Fencing Federation allows Russians and Belarusians to compete under national flags
Kyiv • UNN
The FIE has lifted restrictions for athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus starting from the 2026 World Championships in Hong Kong. They will compete under their own flags, anthems, and in their own uniforms.
The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in competitions under their national flags, anthems, abbreviations, and uniforms. This is stated in the federation's announcement, reports UNN.
Details
The Executive Committee of the International Fencing Federation has decided that, starting from the 2026 Senior World Championships in Hong Kong (China), all restrictive measures will be lifted, and athletes and officials holding Belarusian or Russian passports will be allowed to participate in all individual and team FIE competitions under their respective national abbreviations, in uniform, with flags, and under the anthems of their countries
The federation stated that this decision "reflects the FIE's commitment to the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter, in particular the principles of non-discrimination, equal treatment, and the universality of sport, as well as the goals and principles set out in the FIE Statutes."
Recall
Ukraine condemns the recent decisions of the International Gymnastics Federation and European Gymnastics regarding the admission of athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus to international competitions under national symbols.