Russia has been reinstated in international table tennis: The ITTF has allowed it to participate in all tournaments
13 July 23:11
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has decided to fully reinstate Russia’s membership and allow Russian athletes to participate in international tournaments. At the same time, the organization emphasized that individual countries and tournament organizers may continue to apply their own restrictions. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing, the organization’s press service.
According to the federation’s decision, starting July 28, 2026, Russian athletes will be eligible to compete:
- in international table tennis tournaments;
- in international para-table tennis tournaments;
- in individual and team competitions under the auspices of the ITTF.
This decision was made after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rescinded its recommendations regarding restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes in international sports competitions.
What restrictions remain
Despite the restoration of Russia’s membership, the ITTF emphasized that the decision does not mean automatic admission to all tournaments.
The federation noted that athletes’ participation may be restricted due to:
- the laws of individual countries;
- visa regulations;
- international sanctions;
- requirements of government authorities;
- security concerns;
- anti-doping rules;
- disciplinary decisions;
- the rules of specific tournaments.
Thus, each host country retains the right to make its own decisions regarding the eligibility of athletes.
What the IOC Will Decide
The ITTF specifically emphasized that the issue of Russian athletes’ participation in the Olympic Games falls outside the federation’s jurisdiction.
Specifically, the IOC will determine:
- eligibility to participate in the Olympics;
- the use of the flag and national anthem;
- athletic uniforms;
- the status of official delegations;
- the accreditation process.
ITTF Declares Support for Ukraine
Despite the decision regarding Russia, the federation has declared its unwavering support for the Ukrainian sports community.
The statement notes that the war has significantly affected Ukrainian athletes, coaches, referees, clubs, and their families.
“The ITTF reaffirms its solidarity with the Ukrainian table tennis community and recognizes the profound impact that the ongoing war has had on Ukrainian athletes, coaches, officials, clubs, and families. This decision does not diminish the ITTF’s support for Ukraine,” the federation’s statement reads.
Why this decision was made
The reinstatement of Russia’s membership became possible following a change in the International Olympic Committee’s approach.
Previously, the IOC Executive Board had also temporarily suspended sanctions against the Russian Olympic Committee, which had been in effect since October 2023.
The ITTF’s decision marked one of the first instances of Russian athletes’ full return to international tournaments following the IOC’s revised recommendations.
