World Gymnastics Allows Russian Athletes to Compete With Flag, Anthem: Russian Watchdog
13:00 18.05.2026 (Updated: 14:01 18.05.2026)
© Sputnik / Maksim Bogodvid
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The Executive Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation has decided to allow Russian gymnasts to participate in international competitions with the national flag and anthem, Russian Gymnastics Federation said on Monday.
The committee held a meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh over the weekend and decided "lift all restrictions applicable to Russian and Belarusian athletes since February 2022, with immediate effect," adding that "the FIG Ad-Hoc rules are therefore no longer in force."
"On May 17, 2026, in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt), the executive committee of World Gymnastics made a positive decision on the admission of Russian gymnasts to international competitions under the Russian flag and with the performance of the national anthem. The decision applies to all five gymnastic sports belonging to the Russian Gymnastics Federation: athletic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline jumping, athletic acrobatics and athletic aerobics," the federation said in a statement.
Earlier this year, Russian junior rhythmic gymnasts were barred from the 2026 European Cup over bureaucratic delays.
The Russian Gymnastics Federation had filed neutral-status applications for 8 athletes in late March and repeatedly requested expedited review—but approvals came only after the registration deadline and draw had passed.
In 2022, the International Olympic Committee issued a recommendation to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia from international competitions or only allow them to compete in neutral status, without their national uniforms, over the Ukraine conflict.
The Russian Gymnastics Federation had filed neutral-status applications for 8 athletes in late March and repeatedly requested expedited review—but approvals came only after the registration deadline and draw had passed.
In 2022, the International Olympic Committee issued a recommendation to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia from international competitions or only allow them to compete in neutral status, without their national uniforms, over the Ukraine conflict.
