The IOC reacted to the decision of the FIE Congress on the return of Russians to international tournaments

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken note of the decision of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Congress on the participation of Russians and Belarusians in tournaments under its auspices, the IOC said in a statement to .

An extraordinary meeting of the FIE Congress decided on Friday to return Russian and Belarusian athletes to international tournaments in a neutral status.

— The IOC has taken note of the FIE’s decision. Consultations with all stakeholders of the Olympic Movement – athlete representatives, 206 National Olympic Committees and International Federations – through a democratic decision-making process are still ongoing.

In this context, it is important to note that participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is not part of the discussions, which focus on upcoming international competitions, of which the international federations have exclusivity. It should also be noted that in terms of conditions for participation in international competitions, the FIE refers to the relevant recommendations of the IOC, the IOC said in a statement to .

Previously, the FIE, in accordance with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), suspended Russian athletes from participating in competitions under its auspices due to the situation in Ukraine.