Wrestling body lets Russia and Belarus compete under their flags

United World Wrestling lifted restrictions on wrestlers from Russia and Belarus. The restrictions had been imposed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The athletes will be allowed to compete under their respective national flags. The decision was reported on May 15.

United World Wrestling is the international federation that governs Olympic-style wrestling. A restriction after the invasion had limited how athletes from the two countries could appear at international events. Lifting it restores a normal national entry. Competing under a national flag means the wrestler represents the country in name and symbols, not as a neutral individual.

Russia and Belarus are both covered. The report treats them together. It does not say that every other sport has made the same choice. This decision is the wrestling federation's. It does not list weight classes or name the athletes who will return.

Flags and anthems are the public signs of a national team. Neutral status had removed those signs in many sports while the war continued. Wrestling's change puts the flags back for its competitions. The invasion of Ukraine remains the event that caused the original ban, as the report states.

International federations set eligibility for their own world championships and for Olympic qualification in their sport. A lift by the wrestling body changes who can enter its events and how they enter. It does not, by itself, amend a different federation's rules. The date of the decision's report is May 15.

Russian and Belarusian wrestlers may again compete under their national flags. United World Wrestling lifted the restrictions that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The change applies to this sport's competitions. It was reported on May 15.