The Executive Committee of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) decided that, starting with the 2026 Senior World Championships in Hong Kong, China, all protective measures will be lifted and athletes and officials holding Belarusian or Russian passports will be permitted to participate in all FIE individual and team events under their respective national acronyms, uniforms, flags, and anthems.
The decision reflects the FIE’s commitment to the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter, including non-discrimination, equal treatment, and the universality of sport, as well as the objectives and principles set out in the FIE Statutes.
The 2026 Senior World Championships are scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from 22 to 30 July.
BACKGROUND
On 11 December 2025, the 14th Olympic Summit supported a recommendation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) that youth athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport should no longer be restricted in their access to international youth competitions in both individual and team sports. The definition of youth competitions and the application of these recommendations depended for this purpose on the regulations of each International Federation (IF).
In addition, the standard protocols of the International Federation or the international sports event organiser regarding flags, anthems, uniforms and other elements should apply, provided that the national sports organisation concerned is in good standing.
On 27 December 2025, the decisions made by the FIE Executive Committee were published via Information Letter No29-25.
On 7 May 2026, the IOC announced that its Executive Board no longer recommended any restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams, in competitions governed by IFs and international sports event organisers. The IOC EB lifted the recommended conditions of participation for International Federations and international sports event organisers as they related to Belarus and Belarusian athletes, including the protective measures.