The decision, announced by World Sailing, applies to athletes in the under-23 category and also covers those representing Belarus, following the line of other governing bodies that have chosen to normalise relations with both IOC-sanctioned nations.
The Council of the international federation authorised young Russian athletes to take part in international competitions under their national flag and the country’s anthem, according to a statement released Tuesday by the Russian Sailing Federation. “This is a very important step forward,” stated RSF President Sergey Dzhiyenbayev. “It is particularly satisfying that the restrictions on young people have been lifted: the new generation of Russian sailors now has the opportunity to compete internationally without additional obstacles.”
In remarks collected by national news agency TASS, he added, “We also welcome the return of Belarusian athletes to full participation on the international stage. The RSF, with the support of the Russian Olympic Committee, will continue working towards the complete reinstatement of Russian sailing within the international arena.”
World Sailing, previously known as the International Yacht Racing Union and later as the International Sailing Federation, suspended Russia and Belarus from international competitions on 1 March 2022, citing the war with Ukraine. However, in July 2025 the federation allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in World Sailing events with neutral status.
On 28 February 2022, the International Olympic Committee issued recommendations to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from international tournaments, after the former’s invasion of Ukraine with the later’s backing. Following the IOC’s recommendations in late February 2022, most global sports federations opted to prohibit athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in international competitions.
In December 2025, the IOC Executive Board issued recommendations permitting athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in youth disciplines under their national flags and anthems. The guidance applied to both individual and team sports, and numerous international federations adopted the proposal.
Afterwards, some international sports federations went further, choosing to lift previous restrictions not only for youth athletes but across a wider range of competitors from Russia and Belarus at different levels. Just last week, Russian Aquatics Federation President Dmitry Mazepin stated that Russian sports federations must combat the geopolitical isolation of their competitors using every possible means: legal, diplomatic and otherwise. “Both the Russian national sports federations and the Russian Olympic Committee are using these tools,” Mazepin told TASS.
Senior politicians in Saint Petersburg also recently affirmed that diplomatic efforts are currently underway to enable their athletes to take part under their national flag and anthem at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
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