The International Sambo Federation (FIAS) has become the latest sports organisation to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in international tournaments under their own flags and national anthems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision comes less than two weeks after the International Judo Federation announced a similar removal of all sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FIAS in a statement said: \u201c Guided by the fundamental principles of sport which affirm its neutrality, independence, and freedom from political influence, the International SAMBO Federation (FIAS) has consistently sought to preserve the unity of the global SAMBO community during a period of complex international challenges. Our enduring commitment is to protect the interests of sport and athletes, ensuring fairness and safety in competition for all. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FIAS Executive Committee, at its meeting on October 3, 2025, in Bogor (Indonesia), had made the decision to allow athletes from the two nations to compete under their national flags at international youth and junior competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And its Executive Committee on December 4, 2025, FIAs had resolved to extend this practice to all age categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beginning from January 1, 2026, athletes from Russia and Belarus will have the right to compete under their national flags and with their national anthems at all FIAS-sanctioned international competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since 2022 FIAS had already allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete as neutral athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSport 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, said FIAS President Vasily Shestakov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The statement also said that decision reflected FIAS’s confidence in its ethical principles and its role as a global sports organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt reinforces our commitment to the values of fairness, inclusivity, and respect. SAMBO, with its roots in the ideas of friendship and mutual respect, will continue to promote solidarity and peace through sport.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Ukranian media outlet Dzerkalo Tyzhnia calimed that 72-year-old FIAS president Shestakov, is a member of the pro-Putin Russian party United Russia, and has controlled all FIAS activities since 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) condemned FIAS\u2019s decision and stressed that allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to fully participate in international competitions effectively legitimized the propaganda of the aggressor states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UWC added that sport cannot be \u201capolitical\u201d while Russia continues its war against Ukraine and uses sports as a tool for influence and manipulation. Such decisions by international federations ignore the crimes of the aggressor and undermine global efforts to hold Russia accountable for its war mongering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSport cannot be \u201capolitical\u201d while Russia continues its war against Ukraine and uses sports as a tool for influence and manipulation. Such decisions by international federations ignore the crimes of the aggressor and undermine global efforts to hold Russia accountable for its war mongering,\u201d the UWC statement added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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