World Gymnastics Ends Russia and Belarus Ban

World Gymnastics has lifted the sanctions placed on Russian and Belarusian athletes after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, allowing them to return to international competitions under their national flags, anthems, and team identities. The move restores their full status within the sport’s global governing body and immediately alters the competitive landscape ahead of the next Olympic cycle.

Because international gymnastics events are part of the Olympic qualification pipeline, the decision could affect how athletes from both countries pursue places at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

What Changed in the Federation’s Policy

The executive committee of World Gymnastics voted in May 2026 to remove all restrictions imposed on Russian and Belarusian athletes since February 2022. The decision followed a meeting in Sharm el‑Sheikh and took effect immediately.

Previously, gymnasts from the two countries were either excluded from competitions or permitted to compete only as individual neutral athletes, meaning they could not represent their countries or display national symbols.

With the new ruling, athletes from Russia and Belarus can now:

• Compete under their national flags and anthems
• Represent their national federations and teams
• Enter FIG‑sanctioned competitions without neutral‑status restrictions

This effectively restores the competitive rights that were removed at the start of the war in 2022.

Why the Decision Goes Beyond the IOC’s Position

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) provides guidance to sports federations, but its recommendations are not binding. As a result, each international federation can adopt its own eligibility rules for competitions under its authority.

In May 2026, the IOC said it no longer recommends restrictions on Belarusian athletes, allowing them to compete freely in international events, including Olympic qualifiers.

However, the IOC has not made the same recommendation for Russia, where restrictions remain linked to issues involving the Russian Olympic Committee and other governance concerns.

World Gymnastics therefore moved further than the IOC in two key ways:

• It lifted restrictions for both Russia and Belarus, not just Belarus.
• It restored full national representation, including flags, anthems, and team entries.

This illustrates how Olympic sports governance often diverges across federations when geopolitical issues intersect with athlete eligibility.

Gymnastics Disciplines Affected

The decision applies to the main disciplines overseen by the Russian Gymnastics Federation within FIG competitions. These include:

• Artistic gymnastics (men’s and women’s)
• Rhythmic gymnastics
• Trampoline gymnastics
• Acrobatic gymnastics
• Aerobic gymnastics

Athletes in these events can now return to international competition representing their countries.

Competitions Impacted by the Policy

Because the rule applies to FIG‑sanctioned competitions, it affects multiple levels of international events, including:

• FIG World Cup circuits
• World championships
• Continental championships
• Olympic qualification competitions

These events form the ranking and qualification system that determines which athletes eventually reach the Olympic Games. The change therefore allows Russian and Belarusian gymnasts to re‑enter the pathway that leads to Olympic qualification.

How Other Sports Federations Are Responding

Gymnastics is not alone in reconsidering restrictions, but policies across international sport remain inconsistent.

Some federations have recently eased restrictions. For example, World Aquatics lifted participation limits and now allows Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under national flags and anthems in its competitions.

Others have taken the opposite approach. World Athletics has reaffirmed its sanctions introduced in 2022 and continues to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from international athletics events.

The result is a fragmented global sports landscape in which each governing body sets its own participation rules.

Backlash From Ukraine and Critics

The decision has drawn criticism from Ukrainian officials and organizations connected to the country’s sports community.

Ukrainian government and sports leaders have repeatedly urged international federations to maintain suspensions of Russian and Belarusian athletes while the war continues, arguing that restoring national symbols risks normalizing participation despite the ongoing conflict.

This disagreement reflects a broader debate across Olympic sport since 2022 over how governing bodies should balance geopolitical realities with athletes’ participation rights.

What It Could Mean for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

The ruling may influence the early stages of Olympic qualification for the 2028 Summer Games.

If Russian and Belarusian gymnasts compete normally in FIG events, they can accumulate results and rankings through the same qualification pathway used by athletes from other countries. However, the IOC still determines the final participation rules for the Olympic Games themselves.

That leaves several possibilities for LA 2028:

• Athletes could compete for their national teams if IOC policy evolves further.
• They could qualify through FIG competitions but appear at the Olympics as neutral athletes.
• The IOC could introduce separate eligibility conditions closer to the Games.

Because Olympic qualification cycles begin years before the Games, the federation’s decision increases pressure on Olympic authorities to clarify how results earned under national representation will translate into Olympic participation.

A Turning Point for Olympic Governance

By restoring full participation for Russia and Belarus, World Gymnastics has taken a more permissive approach than the IOC’s current recommendations for Russia. The decision underscores the growing independence of international federations in setting eligibility rules during geopolitical conflicts.

Whether more sports follow the same path—or maintain bans—will shape the competitive and political environment leading into the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.