Russian and Belarusian fencers are allowed to participate in the qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympics following a decision by the International Fencing Federation (FIE).
In a three-part vote on Friday (10.03.23) at an extraordinary FIE congress held online, the delegates decided both for the participation of athletes and for the admission of teams and delegates from Russia and Belarus.
The approval is expected to come into effect in the second half of April 2023. This includes the qualifying competitions for the next Olympic Games.
A decision on whether athletes from both countries can compete under their own flag depends on the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee. Its president, Thomas Bach, is a former fencer and gold medalist (Montreal 1976).
Two Ukrainian applications are rejected
Voting, Russian and Belarusian fencers participating in individual competitions “subject to the conditions of neutrality and individual admission” permit was adopted by 89 votes to 46, with 1 abstention. 85 delegates voted to allow the teams (51 votes against and 3 abstentions), and 88 participants (48 votes against, 2 abstentions) voted to allow the officials to participate in the competitions.
Members voted 84 to 46 against removing a vote on the return of Russia and Belarus from the agenda. Deferring the vote pending a decision on an ethics complaint filed against both countries was rejected by an equal majority. Two applications from the Ukrainian Fencing Federation in this regard failed.
The US association showed up in a reaction “disappointed, frustrated and concerned – if not overly surprised”. Phil Andrews, Managing Director of USA Fencing, stated: “This vote comes just over 100 days after 77 percent of the members of the same body voted to extend the ban. What has changed?”
Mammadov thanks supporters
The President of the Russian Fencing Federation, Ilgar Mammadov, thanked the members: “I am grateful to my colleagues from the national foreign federations for those who have supported and helped us both openly and behind the scenes” said Mammadov, “Serious work has been done, this is the work of a great team of people.”
The fencing qualifying period for Paris 2024 will start on April 3rd and is scheduled to run until April 1st next year.
