European Gymnastics follows FIG and lifts Russia, Belarus sanctions

European Gymnastics has lifted all sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes relating to the Ukraine war, following the same move by the world governing body FIG.

A statement on Sunday said that the European Gymnastics executive committee decided in an online vote that athletes from the two countries can compete with immediate effect again with their national symbols such as flags and anthems.

"European Gymnastics will follow the World Gymnastics decision to lift all restrictions applicable to the participation of RUS/BLR, as the World Gymnastics Ad-Hoc rules are no longer in force," it said.

The decision is to be ratified in an extraordinary online general assembly which is "to be held soon," European gymnastics said.

The FIG had lifted the sanctions on Monday.

Russian and Belarusian athletes were first excluded after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and then allowed to complete as neutral athletes after a strict vetting process since 2024.

Russian athlete Angelina Melnikova won the all-around and vault world titles as a neutral athlete last year.