IFMA restores Russian and Belarusian flags and anthems at every muaythai championship and age category

The International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) has lifted restrictions on Russian and Belarusian national symbols, authorising athletes from both countries to compete under their flags across all age groups and categories at every IFMA-sanctioned event, the federation said.

The decision aligns muaythai with wrestling, sambo, judo, taekwondo, and artistic gymnastics, each of which has restored full national participation to Russian and Belarusian athletes; World Aquatics, by contrast, has postponed lifting its own sanctions, Suspilne reported.

International sports federations and major tournaments have barred or restricted Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, citing safety concerns and solidarity with Kyiv. The bans, varying by sport and competition, remain in place for many events and are regularly reviewed as the conflict and sanctions evolve.

What changes for athletes

Under the updated participation framework, athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete under their national flags at all IFMA events, including youth, junior, U23, and senior championships, IFMA said. National team uniforms will again carry official country abbreviations and national insignia, and the anthems of both countries will be played during medal ceremonies should athletes or teams secure championship titles.

The reinstatement lifts a ban introduced in March 2022, according to Suspilne. Throughout the intervening period, Russian and Belarusian athletes continued to compete at IFMA events under neutral status, often in large delegations, the federation said.

IFMA stated that participation will continue under its competition rules, integrity standards, safeguarding policies, and anti-doping regulations.

What IFMA says about the decision

Federation president Sakchye Tapsuwan framed the reinstatement as a continuation of the federation's existing approach to Russian and Belarusian athletes, who competed throughout the period under neutral status.

"Muaythai is built upon the values of respect, honour, tradition, and unity. Throughout this period, athletes from Russia and Belarus continued to participate in IFMA events at all levels as neutral athletes, often with very strong delegations and significant participation numbers," Tapsuwan said in the federation statement.

He added that youth athletes from the two countries had never been fully excluded from IFMA development pathways "because children and young athletes should never carry the burden of political conflict."

Where other federations stand

Russian and Belarusian athletes have regained the right to compete under their national symbols across all ages in wrestling, sambo, judo, taekwondo, and artistic gymnastics, Suspilne reported.

At the youth level alone, the same right has been restored in chess, fencing, and volleyball. World Aquatics remains an outlier among major federations in maintaining its restrictions.