MINSK, 4 December (BelTA) - The Executive Committee of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) has allowed athletes from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus to compete under their national flags at international competitions, BelTA learned from the FIAS press service.
At its meeting on 3 October 2025, the FIAS Executive Committee decided to allow athletes from Belarus and Russia to compete under their national flags at international youth and junior tournaments. Guided by the principle of equal treatment for all national federations, the Executive Committee, at its meeting on 4 December 2025, resolved to extend this practice to all age categories. Consequently, starting 1 January 2026, athletes from Russia and Belarus will have the right to compete under their national flags and with their national anthems at all international competitions organized by FIAS.
“Since 2022, unlike the decisions of many international sports federations, FIAS has consistently allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in a neutral status, based on the conviction that sport must remain outside of politics. Sport is a bridge for dialogue and mutual understanding between peoples, even in difficult times. We have continued this course, first by reinstating national symbols for juniors, and now for all athletes. This decision returns the situation to the legal framework based on equal rights for all members of our federation,” noted FIAS President Vasily Shestakov.
At its meeting on 3 October 2025, the FIAS Executive Committee decided to allow athletes from Belarus and Russia to compete under their national flags at international youth and junior tournaments. Guided by the principle of equal treatment for all national federations, the Executive Committee, at its meeting on 4 December 2025, resolved to extend this practice to all age categories. Consequently, starting 1 January 2026, athletes from Russia and Belarus will have the right to compete under their national flags and with their national anthems at all international competitions organized by FIAS.
“Since 2022, unlike the decisions of many international sports federations, FIAS has consistently allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in a neutral status, based on the conviction that sport must remain outside of politics. Sport is a bridge for dialogue and mutual understanding between peoples, even in difficult times. We have continued this course, first by reinstating national symbols for juniors, and now for all athletes. This decision returns the situation to the legal framework based on equal rights for all members of our federation,” noted FIAS President Vasily Shestakov.
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