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ITTF supports return of Russian and Belarusian table tennis players as neutrals

Table tennis players from Russia and its ally Belarus can now compete again after a year-long ban due to Russia's conflict in Ukraine

By Pushkar Pandey | Apr 3, 2023 | 2 Min Read

The International Olympic Committee’s recommendation that Russian players compete as neutrals were followed by the sport’s governing body, i.e., the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). They are allowing them to participate in table tennis competitions once more. Table tennis players from Russia and its ally Belarus can now compete again after a year-long ban due to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine thanks to the International Table Tennis Federation’s decision. They could resume competing as early as May “under strict conditions of neutrality.”

However, they won’t compete in the world championships, which begins in late May. As they did not attend the qualifying competitions, according to the ITTF. The IOC’s Tuesday framework for the sport of table tennis included recommendations to exclude all Russians and Belarusians who are under contract to the armed forces and to permit them to compete only as individuals, not as teams. ITTF did not commit to any specific measures, only that it would develop its rules while considering the IOC’s suggestions.

Ping Pong Diplomacy

The ITTF cited the use of “ping pong diplomacy” in 1971. The American table tennis players visited China to play a series of exhibition matches that helped to defrost tensions between the two nations during the Cold War, to support its decision. The ITTF claimed that despite tense political ties, table tennis has a long history of bringing people together. In a way, that exclusion and division cannot, it can create bridges that improve communication among people and pave the way for peace-building.

Since the IOC released its rules, table tennis is the first sport to formally commit to readmitting Russians and Belarusians. Although they had previously agreed to do so in 2023. The Olympic sports of judo and fencing have not yet hosted any matches featuring Russian or Belarusian athletes. In the sports of tennis and cycling, but not in national team competitions, individuals from Russia and Belarus can participate in tour events.

Opposing the return

Politicians from more than 30 nations opposed the return of the athletes from the two countries. Whereas Ukraine threatened a boycott of Paris. Sports event organizers and international federations were advised by Thomas Bach on Tuesday that “athletes with a Russian or a Belarusian passport must compete only as Individual Neutral Athletes.”

These athletes should don all-white or all-one-color uniforms; team logos are not permitted. According to the IOC’s document. The athletes should be prohibited from flying their national flags online. Also, they should not be saying anything that may be prejudicial to the interests of the competition, its integrity, or the participant’s neutrality.

Additionally, the IOC recommended that “teams of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport cannot be considered” and made it clear that sanctions must still be in place against “the Russian and Belarusian states and governments are to blame for starting the war.”