Ukraine has called on the International Judo Federation (IJF) to overturn its decision allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete internationally under their national symbols. The appeal was signed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Judo Federation.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, together with the National Olympic Committee and the Ukrainian Judo Federation, appealed to International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer, demanding that the IJF reconsider its decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international competitions under their national flags, emblems and other state symbols.
On 27 November, the IJF announced that its Executive Committee had approved the full return of Russian athletes, and after Belarusian athletes were reinstated, deemed it appropriate to allow both delegations to compete on equal terms. This would enable athletes from both aggressor states to appear under their flags as early as the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, scheduled for 28–30 November.
The Ukrainian sporting community described the decision as one that contradicts the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter and undermines trust in international sport. The appeal stresses that Russia has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine for nearly four years with Belarusian support, with daily strikes killing civilians — including athletes, coaches and children — and destroying large parts of Ukraine’s sports infrastructure.
Ukrainian representatives emphasised that restoring Russian and Belarusian national symbols at international events serves as a tool of political propaganda that may legitimise the actions of the aggressor states and erode the moral foundations of global sport. “It creates a dangerous precedent and calls into question the fairness of governance decisions in sport,” the statement says.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports, the NOC of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Judo Federation urged Vizer to intervene immediately and prevent the implementation of this decision, stressing that the international sports community expects responsibility, transparency and high moral standards from the IJF.
The appeal was signed by Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidnyi, NOC President Vadym Guttsait, and President of the Ukrainian Judo Federation Mykhailo Koshliak.