The International Triathlon Federation (World Triathlon) announced on Thursday that it has decided to reinstate Russian and Belarusian athletes, who could not compete since March 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In a decision criticized by Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended on March 28 the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes under neutral flags and in an individual capacity, although it did not comment on their participation in the Paris-2024 Games.
Triathlon follows the path of fencing, table tennis and taekwondo, which approved the return of Russians and Belarusians in recent weeks, unlike athletics or equestrian sports, which maintain exclusion.
“The executive committee reaffirms its solidarity with Ukraine in the face of war with Russia,” World Triathlon stressed, adding that it also “reaffirms the neutrality of every athlete or official as an absolute condition for their return to a world triathlon event.”
The body said it is working “with the IOC and ASOIF” (Association of International Olympic Sports Federations) to develop an independent examination procedure that allows the reintegration of triathletes and officials to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.
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