World Athletics decided to maintain the ban on participation of…
World Athletics decided to maintain the ban on participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions. The decision was made during a board meeting held on July 1-2, 2026, reaffirming previous rulings from 2022, 2023, and 2025.
Consensus
- World Athletics decided to maintain the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in international competitions
- The decision was made during a board meeting held on July 1-2, 2026
- The ban has been in place since March 1, 2022
- This is not the first time this decision has been reaffirmed; it was previously reviewed and confirmed in 2023 and 2025
Points of divergence
- World Athletics stated that no real progress toward peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine has occurred, which is why the ban remains. — kommersant
- The ban was initially imposed in 2022 due to Russia's military actions in Ukraine, and it had been previously confirmed in 2023 and 2025. The organization also noted that light athletics remains one of the most restricted Olympic sports for Russia. — fontanka
- World Athletics' president Sebastian Coe said they presented options to the board but maintained the original decision due to lack of progress in peace negotiations, citing a need to protect competition integrity and fairness. — vm
Coverage (4 sources)
- World Athletics keeps ban on Russian participation in tournaments — Коммерсантъ
- Without a flag and without neutral status: Russian athletes are once again barred from competition — Фонтанка
- World Athletics extends ban on Russian athletes — Вести
- World Athletics Upholds Ban on Russian and Belarusian Athletes — Вечерняя Москва