International Weightlifting Federation lifts all sanctions on Russia and Belarus

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has lifted all sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Source: IWF

Details: Earlier this year, the IWF eased sanctions on Russia and Belarus by allowing their athletes to compete without restrictions at the youth and junior levels.

The sanctions have now been lifted across all age categories. At the 2026 European Weightlifting Championships in Batumi, Georgia, Russian athletes competed under a neutral status. They will now be eligible to compete under their national flag at the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships, which will be held in China from 27 October to 8 November.

The IWF said the decision was based on recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and recent amendments to the Olympic Charter.

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