Tue, Nov 05, 2024 | Jumada al-Awwal 3, 1446 | DXB ktweather icon0°C

Russian, Belarusian golfers allowed to return to competition as neutrals

They join table tennis, pentathlon, fencing, judo and taekwondo as Olympic sports that have readmitted athletes

Published: Sat 6 May 2023, 5:15 PM

Updated: Sat 6 May 2023, 5:16 PM

  • By
  • Reuters

Top Stories

A giant banner with the logo of the Paris bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. However, he IOC is yet to make a decision regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Games. — AFP

A giant banner with the logo of the Paris bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. However, he IOC is yet to make a decision regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Games. — AFP

The International Golf Federation (IGF) has said Russian and Belarusian athletes can return to competing in international competitions as neutrals.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctioned Russia and its ally Belarus after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022 but in March recommended that their athletes be allowed to return to international competition as neutrals.


Table tennis, pentathlon, fencing, judo and taekwondo are among the Olympic sports to have readmitted athletes from the two countries.

"... the IOC has not made a decision regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and as such the IGF board has deferred any decision on their participation at the Olympic golf competitions," the IGF said in a statement on Friday.

The field for men's and women's golf at the Olympics consists of 60 players with qualification determined through the Olympic Golf Ranking (OGR).

There are no Russians or Belarusians in the top 60 of the men's or women's rankings.



Next Story