FIBA lifts restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes, considers national teams’ return
FIBA has also lifted restrictions on referees and other officials from these countries.
At the same time, FIBA has not yet made a final decision on the return of the Russian and Belarusian national teams. The federation said it would work with the International Olympic Committee, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, and other organizations on security and logistics issues.
FIBA is considering allowing the national teams of Russia and Belarus to take part in the qualification pathway for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. It is also considering their potential return to international national team and club competitions in different age categories.
FIBA's Central Board is expected to make specific decisions on team eligibility at its meeting in December 2026.
Background
It should be noted that in July, the International Olympic Committee restored the Russian Olympic Committee page on its official website. It became available for the first time since 2023, when the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee's membership.
The ROC page was restored following the IOC Executive Board's decision on July 7, when the organization temporarily lifted the Russian Olympic Committee's disqualification and suspended its recommendations regarding the participation of athletes from the aggressor state.
The IOC Executive Board decided that its recommendations on Russian athletes and teams, issued in 2022 and 2023, no longer apply. At the same time, the IOC will continue not to organize its events in Russia and will not invite Russian government officials or state officials to its events.
The IOC decision drew criticism from several European countries. Estonia and eight other states issued a call for the European Union to cut funding for the IOC after the IOC eased sanctions against Russia. Other European countries also condemned the organization's steps and opposed Russia's return to full participation in the international sports movement.
At the same time, following the IOC, several international federations are already changing their policies on Russian athletes. These steps come amid sharp criticism from several European states, which have called for a review of the organization's funding. The situation raises questions about the future of the sanctions regime in place against Russia for more than two years.
On July 8, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) also allowed Russian athletes and officials to return to international competitions. Earlier, the International Fencing Federation made a similar decision, lifting its own restrictions on Russia representatives.
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4 of September 2026
