The Ukrainian Judo Federation (UJF) has announced it will boycott the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, scheduled from 13-19 June, in response to the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) decision to allow Belarusian athletes to compete under their national symbols.
The UJF made the announcement on 29 May, expressing strong protest against the IJF’s recent confirmation that Belarusian competitors would be permitted to display their national symbols at international events starting 1 June 2025.
Information about the policy change first appeared on 16 May 2025 on the official website of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus. The Ukrainian federation promptly contacted the IJF seeking confirmation and emphasizing the importance of adhering to the International Olympic Committee’s recommendations regarding participation of athletes from aggressor countries.
On 23 May 2025, the UJF received official confirmation from the IJF about the policy shift. The international body’s response highlighted its belief in sport as “a platform for dialogue, unity, and understanding, building bridges, not walls.”
Observers note that the IJF has been considered one of the most lenient international federations regarding Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The organization has often allowed them to compete under the IJF flag while many other sports bodies maintained stricter bans or only permitted highly restricted neutral status.
Citing order No. 4435 from the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine (dated 26 July 2023), the UJF stated it had no choice but to withhold its official national team delegation from the World Championships.
The UJF strongly condemned the IJF’s decision, describing it as contrary to the fundamental principles of fairness, responsibility, and solidarity within the global sports movement.
The federation stated that allowing athletes from what it terms “aggressor countries” to compete under national symbols represents “political blindness” and a “blatant disregard for the victims of war and international law.”
The Ukrainian Judo Federation affirmed its commitment to maintaining a principled position based on moral values, freedom, and the dignity of the Ukrainian people.
This marks the second time Ukraine has boycotted IJF World Championships since the Russian invasion. In 2023, Ukraine withdrew from the World Junior Judo Championships after the IJF Executive Committee ruled that judokas from Russia and Belarus could compete as individual neutral athletes ahead of the World Championships in Doha.
