The International Weightlifting Federation responded to the inquiry regarding Russian athletes.

According to inkorr.com: The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) responded to the request from 'Glavkom', which addressed Russian weightlifters who visited the annexed Crimea without approval and are members of the Russian military club CSKA. These athletes are included in the list of potential participants for the World Championship scheduled for October in Norway.

Protocol for AIN Participants

Since May 2023, the IWF has introduced new strict rules for AIN participants taking part in competitions that align with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These rules will apply to athletes and their staff at the upcoming World Championship, which involves a thorough checking of all participants with AIN status.

Russian Weightlifters Under Threat

Russian weightlifters who violated Ukrainian legislation during training camps in Crimea may receive permission to participate in the championship. This information also appeared on the Base of Ukrainian Sports resource.

• Anastasia Romanova
• Artem Okulov
• Danilo Vagaicev
• Zulfat Garayev
• Georgiy Kupcov
• Sergey Petrov
• Georg Serobyan
• Yevgeniya Huseva
• Mikhail Podkoritov

Possibility of Participation in Neutral Status

These Russian athletes have been suspended from international competitions due to Russia's war against Ukraine, but the IWF has decided that they may compete under a neutral status. The federation emphasizes that those Russian athletes who illegally visited Crimea will only be able to take part in the World Championships in a neutral status according to the new protocol. However, the previous actions of these athletes remain a point of discussion in the sports community.

This situation is generating considerable debate in the sports world. The IWF's decision regarding the participation of Russian athletes in a neutral status underscores the complexities faced by international federations amid political conflicts. Whether these athletes can rebuild their careers on the international stage while remaining under a 'neutral' flag will take time to reveal. Meanwhile, the issue of violating Ukrainian legislation in sports remains a pressing concern and is being discussed in the international arena.