World Boxing announced Tuesday that fighters from Russia and Belarus will be permitted to participate in competitions as neutral competitors, following the International Olympic Committee’s position established after Russia’s comprehensive military assault on Ukraine in 2022.
According to the new guidelines, competitors from both nations will participate under the designation of Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), prohibited from displaying their country’s flags, national anthems, official emblems, or team uniforms, while undergoing mandatory screening procedures.
This decision comes after World Boxing’s executive board voted in March to accept membership requests from boxing organizations in Russia and Belarus, opening the door for their fighters to participate in sanctioned competitions.
The neutral athlete protocol will be enforced throughout all age divisions in competitions organized by World Boxing, European Boxing, and international tournaments hosted by national boxing organizations, extending to trainers, support personnel, and team management.
According to World Boxing officials, the new protocol became effective immediately, with the organization’s secretary general officially informing both the Russian and Belarusian boxing federations about implementation procedures for the new measures.
