The International Olympic Committee lifted the suspension of Russian symbols on July 7.
On Wednesday, the Russian national anthem was heard again at a World Championship thanks to fencer Pavel Graudyn’s gold medal in the fencing competition, the first since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifted its ban on Russian symbols.
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Since the state-sponsored doping allegations that led to Russia’s exclusion from the 2018 Pyeongchang, the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, and the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games, Russian athletes had competed under the banner of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) or as neutrals.
The IOC lifted the suspension on July 7, after determining that Russia had agreed not to include institutions and athletes from regions such as Luhansk and Donetsk in its Olympic committee.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry defended the measure: “We don’t want athletes to pay the price for their governments’ actions.” However, Ukraine appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), calling the decision “premature” and lacking proper verification.
The Russian flag flies high once again, and the anthem echoes across the roof of the world. pic.twitter.com/zBhKcpjewC
— The great Ivan
(@GhostOfIvan) July 29, 2026
Ukrainian Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi denounced Russia for maintaining its claims over “occupied” territories and continuing to describe them as part of its sporting space.
The reintegration process has been gradual: federations such as judo, taekwondo, aquatics, wrestling, gymnastics, fencing, and weightlifting lifted the ban before the IOC.
Volleyball, modern pentathlon, and handball followed suit, while other disciplines, such as climbing and canoeing, still maintain Russian neutrality.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Top diplomats from Russia, China, and the United States are expected to arrive in Manila for the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers’ Forum. pic.twitter.com/i08JrN6qYg
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) July 24, 2026
teleSUR: JP
Source: EFE
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