World Taekwondo plans to allow Russia and Belarus athletes as ‘neutrals’

Individual athletes from Russia and Belarus will be welcomed to compete as neutrals, according to a statement from World Taekwondo. Following suggestions from the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), this choice was taken during a special meeting of the World Taekwondo Council. The IOC recommended allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete again if they are not publicly supporting the invasion of Ukraine or connected to the military.

The International Olympic Committee had previously demanded a total ban on both nations after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conflict broke out in Ukraine in February 2022. The World Taekwondo Council declared its support for peace and its sympathy with the Ukrainian Olympic community. The group also vowed to continue helping Ukrainian athletes so they may take part in taekwondo competitions.

When will the athletes from Belarus and Russia be allowed to compete?

Beginning with the Baku 2023 World Taekwondo Championships in the capital of Azerbaijan from May 29 to June 6, the council’s decision will permit individual neutral athletes and support staff with Russian and Belarusian passport holders to compete in competitions supported by World Taekwondo. Following the World Taekwondo Championships in Baku in 2023, a decision will be made regarding the participation of neutral athletes and support staff with Russian and Belarusian passports in other competitions that are not sponsored by World Taekwondo.

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The Three-step procedure

Through the use of a Review Committee and a verification procedure, World Taekwondo promised to guarantee the “strict neutrality” of any participating Russians or Belarusians. The three-step procedure includes verification by the member national association and continental union, followed by individually-led validation by the athlete or support staff. The Review Committee will evaluate and approve the proposal as the last phase.

What the head coach of Russia’s Taekwondo national team Had to say

There will still be a ban on the use of Russian and Belarusian flags, national anthems, and other symbols, and competitors from either country must act impartially. The “neutral” Russian Olympic Committee team dominated the taekwondo medal standings at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with two golds, one silver, and one bronze. Vladislav Larin and Maksim Khramtsov both took home gold medals in Tokyo. 

No Olympian who won a medal has a contract with the military forces, according to the head coach of the national team, Vadim Ivanov, who made the statement to TASS, the official news agency of Russia. The Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

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