The International Fencing Federation (FIE) allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in competitions under its auspices, according to the Inside the Games portal.
The decision was adopted by 89 votes in favor, there were 46 votes against. In accordance with the recommendations of the IOC, athletes will only be allowed to compete under a neutral flag.
The decision should come into force at the end of April. Thus, athletes from Russia and Belarus will be able to take part in the World Championships in Milan, as well as in the selection for the 2024 Olympics, which will begin in the fall.
At the end of January 2023, the International Olympic Committee called on sports federations to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in a neutral status. One of the conditions for admission for athletes was the lack of public support for the war in Ukraine.
The FIE became the first federation to admit Russians and Belarusians in accordance with the new IOC recommendations.
Whether Russians and Belarusians will be able to take part in the 2024 Olympics is not yet clear; The IOC has not yet made a final decision on this issue. In February, a group of 35 nations, including the US, Japan, France and the UK, vowed to “take action” to keep athletes from Russia and Belarus out of the Olympics.
Russian athletes are among the leaders in world fencing. At the 2020 Olympics, they won eight medals, including three golds in 12 disciplines.
