The International Equestrian Federation has partially lifted the ban on Russians and Belarusians

International Federation of Equestrian Sports partially lifted the ban on participation in competitions for Russian And Belarusian athletes. The corresponding decision was made at a meeting of the General Assembly of the International Equestrian Federation, which took place in Mexico City.

Representatives of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus will be allowed to participate in competitions under a neutral flag. However, the ban on holding tournaments in Russia and Belarus remains in force.

IOC head Thomas Bach previously spoke about his organization’s desire to return athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions “for the sake of uniting the whole world at the Olympic Games.” The German called the position of Ukraine, which opposed the admission of all athletes from aggressor countries, “unconstructive.”

Earlier, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal said that Ukraine, together with a coalition of 35 countries, would boycott the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris if Russia and Belarus were allowed to participate. Vadim Gutzeit noted that Ukrainian athletes will perform at the Olympics if Russians and Belarusians compete under neutral flags.

Back in March, the IOC Executive Committee recommended the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions in a neutral status. In response to this, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decided to boycott the qualifying tournaments for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where the specified athletes will be admitted.

Subsequently, it became known that Ukraine may abandon the boycott of sports competitions in which athletes from the aggressor country and the country that supports terrorism, announced in the spring of 2023, take part. This decision may also apply to the 2024 Olympics.