World Triathlon to allow Russian juniors to race under flag and anthem

Some good news for Russian triathletes, it seems. World Triathlon will now allow Russian junior and youth athletes to compete under their national flag and anthem. The move is effective immediately.

Russian news agency TASS reported that sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev welcomed the move. “I congratulate the Russian Triathlon Federation, the athletes, the fans and our entire sports community. It is another positive decision for us,” Degtyarev said.

Senior Russian triathletes will continue to race as neutrals, however.

The decision to ban athletes

Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from competing under their flags after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Belarus was included because of public support for the war against Ukraine. The ban began back in 2022.

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The decision follows guidance issued in December by the International Olympic Committee. The IOC urged federations to make room for Russian and Belarusian youth athletes competing under their own flags. The governing body was making a big push leading up to the 2026 Winter Olympics. But there seems to have been a ripple effect with tri.

The IOC push

The IOC position, discussed at an Olympic Summit chaired by president Kirsty Coventry, draws a line between age groups. Essentially, the thinking is that youth athletes should not be punished for government actions. Senior restrictions largely stay in place.

Russian and Belarusian athletes are still barred from team sports and must meet neutrality criteria in most international events. Furthermore, their national Olympic committees remain suspended.

That means junior triathletes will now be able to enter World Triathlon events coming up in Spain and Uzbekistan, according to TASS.