ISTANBUL 

World Taekwondo has announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be permitted to take part in international competitions.

“On January 31, World Taekwondo permitted Russian and Belarusian junior and senior athletes to compete under their respective national flags with immediate effect,” World Taekwondo said.

It said the decision was made during an extraordinary council meeting held in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

The organization mentioned that current restrictions will continue to apply, including Russia’s prohibition from hosting international sporting events and the refusal to grant accreditation to government officials.

This decision follows the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ruling allowing young Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games under their national flags, World Taekwondo said.