United World Wrestling decision on Friday to allow Belarusian and Russian wrestlers to compete without restrictions at upcoming UWW competitions, has opened the doors for them to compete in the LA2028 Olympic Games.

The global governing body in wrestling—United World Wrestling—on Friday said, Belarusian and Russian wrestlers can compete under their national flag in all competitions sanctioned by UWW. The development will allow both Russian and Belarusian wrestlers to compete at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

“United World Wrestling will allow Belarusian and Russian wrestlers to compete without restrictions at upcoming UWW competitions with immediate effect,” the UWW said in a statement.

The Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from global competition because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The war is still on, but recently the IOC (International Olympic Committee) recommended to all International Sports Federations to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flag.

“Under the updated participation guidelines, wrestlers from Belarus and Russia will compete under their respective national flags at all age-group levels, including seniors. The national anthems of both countries will be played during medal ceremonies,” the UWW posted the statement on its website.

In March 2022 the world governing body in wrestling followed IOC guidelines and recommendations due to the Ukraine war, to ban wrestlers from Belarus and Russia to compete in events under UWW.

The UWW has allowed the Russian and Belarusian to compete under their national flags, but World Athletics—the global governing body of track and field has rejected the IOC recommendations.

Earlier in January, according to UWW, it approved the participation of all wrestlers from the two countries (Russia and Belarus) up to the U23 age-group level under their respective national flags.

EOM