It’s the turn of the modern pentathlon to mark the return of the Russians and Belarusians. The International Federation (UIPM) announced Thursday that its executive committee had voted the day before to lift the competition ban targeting them since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, following the recommendations of the IOC.
“The UIPM supports the path of a return of ‘independent neutral athletes’ with Russian and Belarusian passports to allow athletes of all nationalities to compete together in our sports, in accordance with the Olympic Charter and in particular the principle of non-discrimination,” the body said in a statement Thursday.
Modern pentathlon follows in the footsteps of fencing, table tennis, taekwondo, and even triathlon, which have approved such a comeback in recent weeks. Unlike athletics or equestrian sports, which have maintained exclusion.
In a position criticized by Ukraine and its allies, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended on March 28 the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes under a neutral banner and in an individual capacity, without however deciding at this stage on a possible participation in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
