International Fencing Federation allows russian and belarusian athletes to participate in competitions

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has decided to cancel the suspension of athletes from the russian federation and the Republic of Serbia from competitions under the organization's auspices.

Starting in mid-April, representatives of the aggressor countries will be able to return to compete and fight for medals, despite the war in Ukraine.

The Inside the Games portal informs that the corresponding decision was made online at the FIE congress.

Already in July, russians and belarusians will be able to perform at the World Championship in Milan, Italy. It is still being determined in what status the two countries' national teams will be represented at the competition – with national symbols or under a neutral flag. This will depend on the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) recommendations.

Photo: Russian athletes at the Z concert

The decision to lift sanctions against the aggressors was supported by 89 members of the FIE Congress, while 46 opposed it. In addition, officials of the russian and belarusian federations were also reinstated. Representatives of Ukraine tried to block the vote, but they were not supported.

Photo: Olha Kharlan on the podium with russians

It should be noted that after the full-scale invasion of russia into Ukraine, russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov was forced to leave the post of FIE president. And the president of the russian olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, was removed from the position of the head of the European Fencing Confederation.