Geneva, May 15: United World Wrestling (UWW) has announced that wrestlers from Russia and Belarus are now allowed to participate in UWW competitions without any restrictions.
In a press release, UWW stated, “Wrestlers from both countries can now compete under their national flags in all categories, including senior-level competitions. Athletes and team staff will also be permitted to display the short form of Russia and Belarus on their uniforms. If Russian or Belarusian wrestlers win gold medals or their teams secure championship titles, their national anthems will be played during the medal ceremonies.”
UWW emphasized that all other competition processes and protocols will continue to adhere to standard international wrestling rules.
This new decision marks a significant shift in UWW’s stance, as bans were first imposed in 2022 following geopolitical tensions surrounding Ukraine. In March of that year, the wrestling governing body aligned with recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and barred Russian and Belarusian wrestlers and officials from participating in UWW events.
However, over the past two years, UWW has gradually eased these restrictions. In April 2023, the federation established an independent panel to assess the eligibility of Russian and Belarusian wrestlers under IOC’s suggested participation guidelines. During this period, athletes from both countries in the under-15 and under-17 categories were allowed to compete internationally as neutral athletes.
In January of this year, another easing occurred when UWW permitted Russian and Belarusian wrestlers to compete under their national flags up to the under-23 age group level. This decision followed an IOC recommendation stating that young athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports should not face restrictions in international sporting events.
UWW also revised its qualification framework in September 2024 and made further changes in February 2025, allowing eligible athletes from both countries to compete under the UWW flag instead of as individual neutral athletes. However, UWW has not permitted the use of Belarusian and Russian national anthems, flags, symbols, or coats of arms.
Under the new policies, all restrictions have been lifted, ensuring that wrestlers from Russia and Belarus can now participate in UWW competitions.
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PAK
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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