IJF Holds Its Line on Russian Athlete Eligibility After IOC Move

The International Judo Federation has responded to the latest IOC decision on the Russian Olympic Committee and Russian athletes in international sport. In judo, the key message is continuity: the IJF says its current framework for eligible Russian athletes remains in place.

According to the federation, it has noted the International Olympic Committee Executive Board’s provisional lifting of the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, along with the withdrawal of earlier IOC recommendations to international federations on the participation of Russian athletes.

The IJF made clear that this does not trigger a new approach in judo. It says it already has its own structure for managing the participation of eligible Russian athletes in international competitions, and that this framework was approved by the IJF Executive Committee on 27 November 2025.

That framework, as described by the federation, is built around sporting integrity, fair competition and respect for the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement. The statement underlines a balance that remains central in this discussion: protecting the credibility of competition while allowing eligible athletes to compete fairly.

The IJF also echoed the IOC’s broader position that athletes should not be discriminated against solely because of their nationality. At the same time, it stressed that participation in international sport must remain aligned with the values of Olympism.

The message from the IJF is clear: no sudden reset for judo.

Another important point in the federation’s statement is anti-doping control. The IOC highlighted the need for robust anti-doping requirements for Russian athletes returning to international competition, and the IJF says it will continue working closely with the International Testing Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

That part of the announcement matters. In a sport where credibility, discipline and respect are part of the identity of every contest, clean sport standards are not a side issue. The IJF’s reference to ongoing cooperation with the ITA and WADA signals that any return to competition must be matched by strong oversight.

The federation closed by reaffirming a wider vision for judo. Beyond eligibility rules and governance decisions, the IJF says it remains committed to promoting judo as a sport of mutual respect, friendship and peace, while also ensuring fair and safe competition for all athletes.

For athletes, coaches and fans, this is less a dramatic policy shift than a confirmation of where judo already stands. The IOC decision may have changed the wider Olympic conversation, but the IJF’s position is that its own competition framework is already established and will continue to guide the sport.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation