Russian and Belarusian tennis gamers shall be allowed to enter the Olympic and Paralympic Video games in Paris as neutrals, the Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) confirmed Wednesday.
The ITF mentioned gamers from Russia and Belarus can be allowed to enter in “a person and impartial capability” in the event that they met the choice and eligibility necessities in addition to adjust to the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) rules.
“The ITF choice aligns with the vast majority of Worldwide Federations (IFs) relating to particular person competitors and athletes collaborating within the Paris 2024 Video games this summer season,” the tennis world governing physique mentioned in a press release.
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Russians and Belarusians had been banned from competing internationally following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, for which Belarus has been used as a staging floor.
In March final yr, nonetheless, the IOC issued a set of suggestions for worldwide sports activities federations to permit opponents from these nations to return.
The impartial athletes will compete with out flags, emblems or anthems. Athletes who actively assist the warfare in Ukraine aren’t eligible, nor are these contracted to the Russian or Belarusian navy.
Tennis gamers already compete on the ATP/WTA excursions as neutrals.
