The global governing body of Taekwondo has said it will allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at next month’s world championships as neutrals, following the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) guidance.
The ban was imposed last year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special military operation.”
Table tennis, fencing, and judo are other Olympic sports that have readmitted Russians and Belarusians as neutrals.
World Taekwondo said a review committee would oversee a verification process to “ensure strict neutrality” of individual athletes and support personnel.The IOC stated that they will exclude athletes who support the war or are under contract with their respective countries’ military or national security agency.
The world championships are scheduled to begin on May 29 in Baku.
The IOC will make a separate decision on Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation at the Paris Olympics. Ukraine’s government has said its athletes will not be allowed to take part in Paris 2024 qualifying events if they have to compete against Russians. They also threatened to boycott the Games should they be allowed to compete there.
World Taekwondo said it would continue to support Ukrainian athletes in ensuring they can participate in taekwondo events and reaffirmed its calls for peace and solidarity with the Olympic community in Ukraine.