International Gymnastics Federation releases ad-hoc rules outlining how Russian and Belarusian athletes can return to competition in 2024

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has published the conditions of participation for Russian and Belarusian individuals looking to return to international competition in 2024.

Before we breakdown the ad-hoc rules, which you can see in their entirety here, let’s rewind and recap how we got here.

FIG paves way for Russia, Belarus to compete in 2024

Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from FIG competitions beginning in March 2022, soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The ban was extended in March 2023, prior to the IOC’s recommendations.

On July 19, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Executive Committee (EC) announced the decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to FIG-sanctioned competitions starting in 2024.

The FIG’s decision is in line with a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in March to allow individuals, not teams, from Russia and Belarus to compete as “individual neutral athletes” while not actively supporting the war and abiding by anti-doping requirements.

Now that the ad-hoc rules have been released, any athlete wishing to obtain and compete under the status of “individual neutral athlete” will have to apply with the FIG. Those approved will be eligible to compete in FIG-sanctioned events starting January 1, 2024. The list of approved athletes will also be published on the FIG website.

This decision is FIG-specific and is separate from the decision of whether to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. That responsibility falls on the IOC, with the organization saying in July, “[We] will take this decision at the appropriate time, at its full discretion, and without being bound by the results of previous Olympic qualification competitions.”

The current stipulations laid out by both the IOC and FIG do not allow for Russian or Belarusian teams to enter competitions when the ban is lifted. 

The ad-hoc rules of participation

The FIG’s ad-hoc rules apply to gymnasts of Russian and Belarusian sporting nationality (meaning they currently represent those countries) and their support personnel looking to participate in FIG-sanctioned events.

The rules are broken down into 18 sections, providing a comprehensive look at how these athletes can participate in competition moving forward. 

Below, we summarize each section before analyzing the practical application, who will (presumably) not be eligible, and Russian backlash to the rules.

Participation

As previously mentioned, approved gymnasts from Russia and Belarus and their support personnel may return to FIG-sanctioned events starting January 1, 2024, but only in an individual natural capacity and not in any way as a representative of the Russian Federation, Republic of Belarus, or any other organization in their country (like their National Olympic Committee (NOC) or National Federation (NF)).

These athletes will be referred to as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN).

The following support personnel are considered essential to AINs and may be granted accreditation in accordance with the FIG’s accreditation rules:

• Head of delegation
• Coach
• Medical doctor
• Physiotherapist

Russian or Belarusian government or state officials cannot be invited or accredited for any FIG-sanctioned event or in the aforementioned support personnel roles.

If a government, governmental body, or other external entity impedes the participation of an AIN or officials from obtaining visas, clearances, or any other prerequisites to participation, the FIG assumes no responsibility and will not be held accountable for that body or how it impacts the competition (i.e. if they’re not allowed to participate).

National Teams

No teams of any sort from Russia or Belarus, even in a neutral capacity, will be permitted to participate in FIG-sanctioned events.

“Teams” constitute two more athletes.

Neutrality Criteria

Only those AINs and support personnel who “have not acted against the peace mission of the Olympic Movement by actively supporting the war in Ukraine” may be invited to participate in FIG-sanctioned events.

Neutrality applications will be evaluated through the following criteria:

• No link with the Russian or Belarusian military or with any other national security agency
  • Gymnasts and support personnel who are or become contracted or are or become in any way connected to the Russian or Belarusian military, including any affiliated entities, or with national security agencies since the beginning of the conflict (February 24, 2022) cannot participate in FIG-sanctioned events.
• No communication associated with Russia or Belarus
  • Gymnasts and support personnel must refrain from any activity or communication, either verbal, non-verbal, or written, associated with the national flag, anthem, emblem, or any other symbol of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, their NFs or NOCs, or from any support for the war in Ukraine in any official venue or in the media (including interviews, social media, retweets and reposted messages on Twitter, forwarded messages, etc.) at any time since the beginning of the military aggression in Ukraine by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.
    • Gymnasts/athletes and support personnel must not make any public statements or comments or take any action or behave in any way that may prejudice the interests of the competition, its integrity or the participant’s neutrality required as a condition for participation.
• No support for the war in Ukraine
  • Only gymnasts/athletes and support personnel who have not supported nor are supporting the war in Ukraine may participate in FIG sanctioned events. Gymnasts/athletes and support personnel employed by or contracted to the Russian and Belarusian military or national security agencies are considered as supporting the war.
  • Any other form of verbal, non-verbal or written expression, explicit or implicit, at any time since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, in particular public statements, including those made in social media, participation in pro-war demonstrations or events, and the wearing of any symbol in support of the war in Ukraine, for example the “Z” symbol, are considered to be acts of support for the war in Ukraine.

How to apply for Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status

Gymnasts have to apply with the FIG to be granted the status of Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN), with details of application being sent to Russia and Belarus’ national federations.

Important notes regarding applications:

• Applications must be submitted at least sixty (60) days before the definitive registration deadline for the event which eligibility is sought.
  • Applications must fully abide by the outlined submission rules, or they will be deemed as “non-existent” and as not being filed in due time. The FIG has the ability to grant a short extension if the application is incomplete for whatever reason.
• Upon receiving the application, the FIG will verify compliance with the neutrality criteria. If needed, it will enlist the assistance of an independent international agency. 
• The FIG will strive to determine eligibility within thirty (30) days. 
• The FIG Executive Committee has delegated its power to consider and determine application eligibility to a specific ad-hoc committee.
• The FIG will publish the list of AINs whose status has been approved.
  • If there is a breach of the rules after approval, the FIG will withdraw the athlete’s status and delete them from the published list.
• The same application process applies for support personnel and judges.

Notification of approval/denial and appeals

The FIG will notify an athlete’s national federation whether they are approved or denied as an AIN, with the NF responsible for forwarding the decision to the athlete.

The FIG’s decision is immediately enforceable.

Any decision appeals will go through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and must be filed within ten (10) days of receiving the decision. Decisions won’t be stayed while pending appeal.

Anti-doping requirements

At least one (1) test must be conducted by the International Testing Agency (ITA) before returning to competition.

Right to refuse or disqualify

If, after confirming a gymnast’s entry, the FIG becomes aware of a breach of the rules, the FIG or the designated authority on site may refuse participation or disqualify the athlete. The same applies to support personnel and judges.

Identification, flags, uniforms, etc.

Approved athletes will participate as “Individual Neutral Athletes” and use “AIN” as the acronym.

If an emblem or logo is required, the AIN acronym will be used.

The flags of the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus (current or historical) are not permitted to be flown or displayed in any official venue or area controlled by the FIG and/or the sport event organizer. When the use of a flag is necessary (e.g., ceremonies, TV/media displays, etc.), a flag of a solid light blue color will be used for AINs.

Spectators are also not allowed to display Russian or Belarusian flags.

For anthems, which are typically used during ceremonies, a neutral music (to be determined by the FIG) will be used to represent the AINs.

AINs uniforms will follow strict guidelines:

• Warmups worn by AINs and their support personnel must be of a solid light blue color.
• Competition attire will be as follows:
  • Women’s leo/unitard/shirt: solid light blue
  • Men’s singlet/unitard/shirt: solid light blue
  • Men’s pants/shorts: completely white
• In rhythmic gymnastics, the hand apparatus must be completely white.
• Uniforms (competition, warmups, formal, ceremonies, casual, etc.), clothing, equipment, accessories, and personal items belonging to AINs and their support personnel that are worn, used, or otherwise displayed at official venues and in other areas controlled by the IFG or event organizer must not contain:
  • any reference to the Russian Federation, Republic Federation, their national federations or NOCs, or any other national identification of Russia or Belarus, official or unofficial;
  • any emblem or identification, commercial or otherwise, of any Russian or Belarusian organization or entity;
  • any expression (message, graphic element, symbol etc.) with a direct or indirect political connotation.
• Clothing for AINs and support personnel must be submitted to the FIG for approval. Any use of clothing other than that approved by the FIG will result in refusal to compete or disqualification.

Routine Music

When routine music is used, it must be neutral and cannot contain reference to the Russian Federation, Republic of Belarus, or any message or sound with a direct or indirect political connotation.

Music must be submitted by the AIN to the FIG for approval. Any use of music other than that approved by the FIG will result in refusal to compete or disqualification.

Medals

AINs may earn medals at competitions, but they will not count toward any medal tables for their nation.

Neutrality Requirements

The FIG doubles down on the aforementioned neutrality criteria, stating:

“lndividual Neutral Athletes and their support personnel must fully respect the FIG statutes and regulations, the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code and the FIG conditions of participation on the basis of the IOC Recommended Conditions of Participation. 

“To adhere to the requirement of neutrality, lndividual Neutral Athletes and their support personnel must refrain from any activity or communication associated with the national flag, anthem, emblem or any other symbol of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, their NFs or NOCs, or support for the war in Ukraine, at any official venue or in the media (including interviews, social media – retweets, reposting, etc.) prior to, during and following the international sports competition. This includes any national events related to their participation in the competition. 

“They must not make any statements or comments, take any action, or conduct themselves in any manner that may be prejudicial to the interests of the competition, its integrity or the participant’s neutrality required as a condition of participation.”

Enforcement of the ad-hoc rules and sanctions

Any violation of the ad-hoc rules may be subject to sanctions.

Consequences may include but are not limited to:

• ineligibility for as long as these Ad-hoc rules remain in force; 
• ineligibility for a period to be served in any event and irrespective of whether or not the Ad-hoc Rules remain in force;
• disqualification of all or part of the results obtained in competitions to which the gymnast/athlete participated on the basis of the Ad-hoc rules.

Any discriminatory behavior toward an AIN gymnast from Russia or Belarus will be subject to disciplinary proceedings by the FIG.

Judges

Judges from Russia and Belarus must meet the same conditions of neutrality as athletes and support personnel and follow the same rules in order to be appointed by the FIG to officiate at an FIG-sanctioned event.

Judges will be represented by the AIN acronym where necessary.

Judges should not display or otherwise express an association with their nationality.

So what does this mean? Who will be able to compete from Russia and Belarus in 2024?

Many in the gymnastics community didn’t know what to expect when the FIG said it would allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to competition as individuals, but these rules seem well thought out, thorough, and strict.

The fact of the matter is most of the relevant athletes (we discuss specific examples below) will not be eligible for AIN status because of their known support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or connection with state-sponsored gyms/organizations/etc.

The IOC has yet to make a decision on whether athletes from either country can compete at Paris 2024, but in gymnastics – artistic, rhythmic, and trampoline – most Olympic berths have already been awarded, with a relative few left to be decided next year. Even then, some of those definitive registration deadlines are already past the 60 days out window.

The IOC has left the door open to make a special exception when it eventually make a decision, but based on its own recommendations, only individuals would be allowed in that scenario. 

As for who will not be eligible, based on these rules, some blatant cases have spread on social media, including Ivan Kuliak wearing the Z symbol at the Doha World Cup in 2022. 

Currently, 45 artistic gymnasts, including Kuliak and all athletes on the men’s and women’s teams that won gold in Tokyo – with the exception of Liliia Akhaimova – have been sanctioned by Ukraine for supporting the war.

In rhythmic, the dominant Averina twins, Dina and Arina, have also been sanctioned, along with three others.

While sanctions by Ukraine don’t equal immediate disqualification from eligibility, the government’s website gives insight into why each athlete has been sanctioned, often with links or other proof of support or affiliation that would render them ineligible for AIN status.

In January, the men’s artistic team that won gold at the Tokyo Games reportedly donated a drone to Russian soldiers. Nikita Nagornyy, who was part of that team and won the 2019 world all-around title, is the head of Russia’s Young Army, which trains adolescents for future military service.

The ad-hoc rules were approved November 9, meaning we’ll likely start to see which athletes, if any, receive AIN status around December 9. You can monitor the approved list here.

Rodionenko, Khorkina speak out against rules, no plans to send athletes as it stands

Russia’s artistic gymnastics head coach, Valentina Rodionenko, does not agree with the ad-hoc rules laid out by the FIG, according to Russian news outlet TASS.

“We do not agree with any of the admission criteria that FIG has developed,” Rodionenko said. “Until the international federation makes changes to its document, we will not send athletes to the starts. This is the decision of the national team’s coaching staff.”

“We couldn’t decide otherwise. We are offered to compete under some kind of blue flag. The International Federation in these criteria even exceeded the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee in terms of severity,” Rodionenko added.

But the president of the Russian Gymnastics Federation, Vasily Titov, begged to differ in an interview with Russia’s Match TV, saying, “It is necessary to try to register Russian athletes for competitions if they meet all the specified admission criteria.”

Titov also had an issue with the uniform requirements laid out by the FIG, specifically the fact that they must be light blue. In the translated version of the story, Titov said, “This, in my opinion, is the theater of the absurd. We need to understand whether this can be fought off.”

Seven-time Olympic medalist and 20-time world medalist Svetlana Khorkina gave her perspective on the rules as a retired athlete.

“I wouldn’t go to Paris under such conditions. I won’t talk about others. I already said earlier that everything that is drawn, we are unlikely to agree with it. Like looking into the water. But we are waiting for official statements from our federation. I have no illusions for a long time. Today we need to create varied, interesting, beautiful, motivating competitions. Be it Russian championships, tournaments in a club format, in a league format – everything that we talked about at the “Russia is a Sports Power” forum. We need to make our own competitions for those who want to fight honestly under the motto “faster, higher, stronger.” We need to fill our calendar with such tournaments and invite our like-minded people. Stop having illusions,” Khorkina said.