In a move that marks a significant shift in international sports policy, the International Judo Federation has announced that Russian athletes will once again be permitted to compete under their national flag at global competitions.
According to sources, the decision takes effect immediately with the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam tournament beginning November 28. It represents a complete reversal of restrictions imposed nearly three years ago. Russian judokas will now compete with their country’s flag, anthem, and national insignia fully restored.
According to the federation’s official statement, the organization “has navigated a period of significant geopolitical pressure with measured responsibility, ensuring the continued unity of the judo family and the safety and fairness of competition for all athletes of all nations.”
The announcement comes after the IJF previously reinstated Belarusian athletes to full national representation earlier this year, with that decision set to take effect June 1, 2025. The federation cited this precedent in explaining its latest move.
“Following recent developments, including the reinstatement of full national representation for Belarusian athletes, the IJF considers it is now appropriate to allow the participation of Russian athletes under equal conditions,” the statement explained.
The world governing body emphasized Russia’s historical significance to the sport, noting that “Russia has been a leading nation in world judo, and their full return is expected to enrich competition at all levels while upholding the IJF’s principles of fairness, inclusivity, and respect.”
The IJF Executive Committee’s vote makes the organization the first Olympic sports federation to grant Russian athletes full national representation rights since international restrictions were imposed in early 2022. The federation has positioned the decision as consistent with judo’s core values, stating that “the sport of judo always promotes friendship, respect, solidarity, and peace.”
Nineteen Russian judokas are expected to participate in various weight categories at the upcoming Grand Slam tournament in Abu Dhabi, which will be held at the Mubadala Arena through November 30 as part of the IJF World Tour. The federation immediately updated its official website to reflect Russia’s restored status, displaying the national flag once again.
The path to this reinstatement has been gradual. After initial complete bans in 2022, the IJF had allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as individual neutral competitors under the IJF flag beginning in April 2023. This latest decision represents the final step in removing all competition restrictions.
