Four months after banning Russian and Belarusian badminton players from international competitions, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) opened the door on Tuesday to a return of these sidelined athletes. The latter will be authorized to compete as “individual neutral athletes” in the various competitions organized by the body from February 26, 2024.
“We believe that the decision to lift the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes who meet the criteria for participation as neutral individual athletes is a positive step forward in our efforts to promote peace and solidarity,” said Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen, President of the BWF.
In this context of war in Ukraine, the badminton players of these two countries were no longer authorized to participate in international competitions while the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was in favor of their return under certain conditions, including that of the neutral banner, ” as individuals”, and provided they did not actively support the war in Ukraine.
Since the position taken by the IOC, with the exception of the international athletics and swimming federations which have not reinstated them, several international federations have done so, with different timetables (fencing, gymnastics, archery , judo, climbing) and this while the qualification process for the Olympics has begun.
For badminton, the reintegration process will start in September and the selected players will then pass “a robust doping control” paving the way for their return in early 2024, specifies the international federation.
Regarding the Paris Olympics, the IOC has not yet decided on a possible Russian or Belarusian participation and will do so when it wishes, “at its sole discretion and without being bound by the results of the Olympic qualification events. previous”.
2023-08-30 16:20:55
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