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≡ RUSSIA REINSTATED ≡
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee recommended “protective measures” that would keep Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams out of international competitions and all of the International Federations accommodated the request.
The International Judo Federation was one of the first to begin re-admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes as “neutrals” to IJF competitions in April 2023. In May of 2025, Belarusian athletes were re-admitted without restrictions as of 1 June 2025, including competing under their national flag.
On Thursday, the IJF posted a long statement titled “Sport: The Last Bridge for Reconciliation and Peace,” which included:
“Sport must remain neutral, independent, and free from political influence. Judo, rooted in the values of peace, unity, and friendship, cannot allow itself to become a platform for geopolitical agendas. The decision to reinstate full national representation reflects the IJF’s confidence in its ethical safeguards, as well as in the strength and integrity of the sport.
“The IJF Executive Committee has therefore voted to permit Russian athletes to compete under their national flag once again, with anthem and insignia in place, beginning with the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2025. This decision reaffirms the IJF’s role as a truly global federation and reinforces its commitment to fair, transparent, and values-driven governance.”
The reinstatement is immediate as the Abu Dhabi tournament begins on Friday (28th).
The Ukranian Judo Federation objected immediately, saying in a statement:
“The Ukrainian Judo Federation expresses its strong protest and categorically condemns the decision of the International Judo Federation (IJF) to allow Russian athletes to participate in international competitions under their national symbols. This decision constitutes a blatant violation of the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee and makes judo the first sport to openly disregard them.
“In its statement, the IJF speaks of ‘building bridges.’ Yet what bridges can be built with a state that kills Ukrainians every day, destroys their homes, and wipes cities and civilian infrastructure off the face of the earth?
“Ukraine pays with the lives of its citizens every day. Among the victims are athletes, coaches, volunteers, and children. At the same time, the IJF calls for ‘inclusivity’ toward representatives of the aggressor state – many of whom have publicly supported the war against Ukraine and are an integral part of the state’s propaganda machine.”
The Ukrainians already boycotted the 2025 IJF World Championships over Belarusian participation and now faces the prospect of possibly not competing at all in IJF events.
Observed: As the Ukrainians noted, the IJF is the first federation to cast off the IOC’s recommendations and fully reinstate Russia. The International Paralympic Committee General Assembly voted to reinstate Russia and Belarus in October, but no Russian or Belarusian athletes will appear in the Winter Paralympic Games in Italy as they have no qualifying pathway.
For judo, however, it has now taken a stand from which it will be difficult to back down in the future. If it can wave away any concerns over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the name of sport, then is there any circumstance under which an aggressor nation – or athlete – can ever be restricted from its events?
The answer for now has to be no and the IJF will have a hard time ever explaining why it would ever ban anyone, under any circumstances, from competing in its events in the future. Let’s see how long this holds up.
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