The International Sailing Federation (ISF) has announced a partial lifting of sanctions for Russian and Belarusian athletes, allowing them to compete under a “neutral” status. This decision was published on the organization’s official website.
Since March 2022, athletes from Russia and Belarus have been suspended from participating in sailing competitions following recommendations from the International Olympic Committee, related to the onset of military actions. The use of boats owned or controlled by individuals from these countries was also prohibited.
In 2024, the federation permitted Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in individual competitions, including qualifying tournaments for the Olympic Games in Paris, but the ban on participation in other events remained in effect.
Currently, the ISF has officially allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under the federation’s flag and to use boats owned by these athletes, in accordance with the World Sailing Neutrality Policy.
Additionally, the Sailing Council decided to extend access for Russian and Belarusian officials to participate in the World Sailing Council, committees, subcommittees, and commissions. The next review of this decision is scheduled after October 23, 2025.
In July of this year, the international federations for aquatic sports (World Aquatics), fencing (FIE), and chess (FIDE) also allowed “neutral” athletes to participate in team competitions.