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≡ RUSSIAN READMISSION ≡
The International Table Tennis Federation became the 10th summer Olympic federation to readmit Russian competitors without restrictions follow the International Olympic Committee’s recommendation of 7 July:
“Following consideration of this development, and in line with the ITTF Executive Board’s recent decision concerning the reinstatement of athletes with a Belarusian passport, and in consideration of the principle of equal treatment of athletes and the need for any restrictions on participation to remain necessary, proportionate and objectively justified, the ITTF Executive Board has decided that athletes holding a Russian passport shall be reinstated and permitted to participate in ITTF table tennis and Para table tennis events, under the ordinary conditions applicable to all athletes, with effect from 28 July 2026.
“This decision applies to ITTF-sanctioned events and covers both individual and team events. Athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel, delegations, Member Associations, and event organisers remain subject to all applicable rules, including eligibility, entry, accreditation, anti-doping, integrity, safeguarding, disciplinary, and competition requirements.”
However, the ITTF also noted that its authority only goes so far and will not be universally welcomed:
“The decision is without prejudice to any applicable law, host-country requirement, visa restriction, sanctions regime, public authority instruction, security assessment, anti-doping requirement, integrity assessment, safeguarding measure, disciplinary rule, accreditation requirement, or competition rule.”
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Although previously leaked, the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) formally confirmed Russian re-entry as of 3 August:
“Athletes and teams from Russia will have free rein to represent their country in UIPM Sports from next month, following the UIPM Executive Board’s decision to lift all restrictions against their participation.”
Both federations made the obligatory “statement of solidarity” with Ukrainian athletes.
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The Russian news agency TASS reported that World Triathlon will allow Russian athletes to compete in the Mixed Relay at World Triathlon Championships Series competitions. And while Russian junior and youth athletes are permitted to compete without restrictions in World Triathlon-sanctioned events, senior-level individual athletes continue to be required to compete as “neutrals.”
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On Monday, former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said that E.U. foreign ministers were steadfast against the IOC’s decision and told a news conference:
“The International Olympic Committee’s decision to invite Russian athletes back to international competitions is blind to reality.
“Ministers strongly condemn such a decision, as it coincides with Russia killing a record number of Ukrainian civilians. So it looks like the International Olympic Committee is rewarding such attacks.”
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The French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) issued its own statement questioning the details of the IOC’s decision and the follow-on consequences (computer translation from the original French):
“The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) understands and supports the IOC’s desire to preserve athletes’ fundamental right to compete and the principle that they should not be held responsible for their government’s decisions. It also acknowledges the safeguards maintained by the IOC, particularly the recommendation to allow a full return only after a transition period accompanied by a credible and independent anti-doping control system.
“However, the Olympic Charter stipulates that National Olympic Committees should not base the selection of athletes solely on their sporting performances, but also on their ability to embody, defend and promote, through sport, a peaceful society.
“In the current context, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) questions, in the case of Russia, how this principle will be respected. How can the Russian National Olympic Committee be expected to guarantee the requirement, enshrined in the Olympic Charter, to select athletes who will serve as role models for the values of peace promoted by the Olympic movement?
“We remain convinced that any participation of Russian or Belarusian athletes, even under a neutral banner, must be subject to particularly rigorous monitoring in order to avoid any political, military or propaganda instrumentalization of sport.”
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