World Boxing Lifts Restrictions

On Russian Athletes!

(July 30th) World Boxing has lifted restrictions on Russian athletes, allowing them to compete under their national flag and anthem in international events, the Olympic-recognized governing body said Thursday.

The decision, approved by the organization’s Executive Committee, reverses the neutral-status framework that had been imposed earlier this year. World Boxing said Russian athletes will now take part in its competitions “like boxers from any other national federation”.

World Boxing had previously required Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes, without national flags, anthems, logos or uniforms, and under a vetting process aimed at excluding anyone with links to the Russian military or public support for the war in Ukraine.

A Russian boxing official welcomed the change, saying the federation’s athletes had been authorized “across all age categories” to compete in all international events with the national flag and anthem, according to reports cited by media outlets.

The move comes after the International Olympic Committee recently lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, shifting authority over eligibility decisions back to individual federations. World Boxing said it will continue to enforce competition rules and anti-doping oversight as Russian boxers return to the ring under their national symbols.