World Taekwondo Lifts Ban, Permits Russian and Belarusian Athletes Under National Flags
Updated (2 articles)
Council Decision Allows Participation With National Flags An extraordinary World Taekwondo council convened in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates on 31 January 2026 and voted to let junior and senior athletes from Russia and Belarus enter international tournaments under their own national flags; the ruling was posted on the federation’s website on 1 February 2026 [1]. The policy change directly addresses the status of athletes from the two countries, which had been excluded from competition since the 2022 sanctions [1].
Sanctions on Russia Remain Except for Athlete Entry World Taekwondo kept all existing restrictions on Russia intact, including the prohibition on the nation hosting any international taekwondo events [1]. Accreditation will continue to be denied to Russian government officials, preserving the broader sporting sanctions framework [1]. The organization emphasized that the new athlete‑participation rule does not alter these host‑nation bans [1].
Policy Mirrors IOC Youth Olympic Precedent The federation cited the International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian youth athletes to compete under their national flags at the Dakar 2024 Youth Olympic Games as a guiding precedent [1]. This reference highlights coordination between major sport governing bodies on handling athletes from sanctioned nations [1]. The alignment suggests a consistent approach across Olympic‑related sports for future events [1].
Timeline
2021 – The Taliban retake Afghanistan and shut down all women’s sports clubs, halting organized competition for female athletes and setting the restrictive environment that later leads to detentions. [1]
2024 – The International Olympic Committee allows Russian and Belarusian youth athletes to compete under their national flags at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, creating a precedent that World Taekwondo later follows. [2]
Early Jan 2026 – UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett publicly urges the Taliban to free 22‑year‑old taekwondo coach Khadija Ahmadzada and highlights the detention of journalist Nazira Rashidi as part of broader women’s‑rights concerns. [1]
Jan 22, 2026 – Afghanistan’s supreme court orders the release of Khadija Ahmadzada after 13 days in detention for alleged violations of women’s‑sports‑gym rules; her current whereabouts remain unclear. [1]
Jan 31, 2026 – World Taekwondo convenes an extraordinary council meeting in Fujairah, UAE, and votes to permit Russian and Belarusian junior and senior athletes to compete internationally under their own national flags. [2]
Feb 1, 2026 – World Taekwondo posts the new policy on its website, confirming that Russian and Belarusian athletes may enter competitions under national flags while keeping bans on Russia hosting events and on accrediting Russian officials. [2]
2026 (as of Jan) – No women’s sports clubs have reopened in Afghanistan since the 2021 Taliban takeover, and women continue to be barred from organized sport. [1]