FIE allows Russian and Belarusian fencers to compete under their own flags and anthem

The International Fencing Federation's (FIE) executive committee has decided to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at international tournaments under their national flags and anthems. The decision has been published on the federation's official website.

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has decided to restore the right of Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete with their national symbols. The FIE executive committee announced that Russian and Belarusian fencers can once again wear their national flags and hear their country's anthem at award ceremonies during international fencing tournaments.

The decision represents a significant change in previous policy, under which Russian and Belarusian athletes were only permitted to participate in international competitions with neutral status and without national symbols following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The FIE has now decided to abandon this restriction.