The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has lifted all restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes, letting them return under their own flag and anthem, Suspilne reported. It went further than the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had recommended easing only for Belarus.
What the federation decided
The FIG executive committee, meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on 16-17 May 2026, decided to lift all restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes in force since February 2022, the federation announced. Its wartime ad-hoc rules no longer apply, though nothing has changed in Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Russian and Belarusian gymnasts may now compete under their national flags and anthems at every international event the body hosts. The federation folded the announcement into a digest of unrelated decisions.
Russia’s war kills 644 Ukrainian athletes. Chess Federation’s response: Restore Russian flags and host events in Belarus
A reversal the Olympic body never asked for
The IOC recommended in early May that federations ease limits on Belarus. It made no such recommendation for Russia. FIG lifted the restrictions for both.
The federation had already let Russian and Belarusian gymnasts back in "neutral" status from the start of 2024, including for the 2024 Summer Olympics qualifying. The reason the sanctions existed, Russia's continuing invasion of Ukraine, has not changed.
Part of a wider rollback
From early May, the international wrestling federation, United World Wrestling, also lifted all restrictions on Russia and Belarus. World Aquatics, the governing body for aquatic sports, took the same decision in April. Ukraine has accused Russia of using pressure, bribery and blackmail to win such reversals across sport.
