Russian and Belarusian Badminton Players Can Compete as Neutrals, Says BWF

From February 26, 2024, Russian and Belarusian badminton players will be able to return to the competition as neutral athletes as announced by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The decision comes after the BWF Council voted to approve a regulatory framework allowing athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports to start competing as neutrals in both singles and doubles competitions. Players from both countries will be able to participate under a neutral flag in BWF sanctioned events.

“We believe that the decision to abolish the disqualification of Russian and Belarusian athletes who meet the criteria to participate as individual neutral athletes is a positive step in our efforts to consolidate peace and solidarity,” said BWF President Poul- Erik Hoyer.

The body revealed that “some regulatory and operational areas are still being determined in the coming months” and added that the process to establish the eligibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes will begin soon. The BWF has also committed to “supervising the behavior of any neutral athlete to see if they meet the established conditions.”

The BWF thus becomes the latest International Federation to agree to adhere to the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, which ruled in March that athletes from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to return to the world sporting stage as long as they did not support the war in Ukraine and did not They were affiliated with the army. Players from Russia and Belarus have been banned from competing in international badminton events since March last year in response to the conflict in Ukraine.

rectification

The BWF determined in April to uphold the ban on Russian and Belarusian players as it was “not convinced that there was a satisfactory justification” for lifting the restrictions. However, just a month later, he changed his mind and decided to consider creating a “regulatory and operational framework” that would allow them to compete as in the realm of neutrality.

During the World Championships a BWF Council meeting was held in Copenhagen, the Danish capital, where members voted to lift the ban. “This is an important decision for the sport,” said BWF President Poul-Erik Hoyer.

The process for the reintroduction of players from Russia and Belarus will begin next month, with those approved expected to be subject to a “robust testing and anti-doping framework.” “If ever the behavior of a neutral athlete compromises the eligibility criteria used to reinstate him, the BWF reserves the right to reconsider his status as a player,” the BWF statement concluded.

2023-08-29 18:26:20
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