San Francisco Frontiers - First title for Russian judoka since neutral status lifted

Bliev, 28, wearing a bib with RUS on it not the AIN (Authorised Neutral Athletes) they previously bore, beat Mongolia's Ariunbold Enkhtaivan in the -60kg final and received his gold medal with his national flag being raised and the Russian anthem played.

Bliev and his compatriots had their neutral athlete status lifted by the International Judo Federation (IJF) on Thursday which had been in place since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, 2022.

Belarus, widely perceived as allies of Russia, had had their neutral status lifted in June.

The decision came despite the war still raging in Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying on Thursday the conflict would only end if Kyiv withdraws from its territory claimed by Moscow.

Ukraine's judo federation slammed the decision and accused the IJF of a "blatant violation" of International Olympic Committee recommendations.

"Ukraine pays with the lives of its citizens every day. Among the victims are athletes, coaches, volunteers, and children," the federation said in a statement on its website.

It said the decision "contradicts the principles of peace, justice, and responsibility, and undermines trust in international sports institutions".

The full reinstatement was greeted with delight in Russia, where Putin is a judo black belt.

He was also an ambassador and honorary president of the IJF until those roles were suspended as a result of the invasion.

"Judo is one of Russia's favourite sports, around half a million citizens regularly participate in it," Mikhail Degtyarev, Russia's Minister of Sport said in a statement published on Telegram.

"It is important to our country, judo is a presidential sport."

- 'The last bridge' -

Russia has been effectively shut out from international sporting competitions since it invaded Ukraine, initially banning them outright though the IJF took till September 2022 to do so.

When the IOC recommended in 2023 that Russians and Belarusians could compete as neutral athletes -- without their national flag or anthem being played -- the IJF was one of the first to let them back in leading to a boycott of that year's world championships by the Ukrainians.

Some, like World Athletics, have maintained a blanket ban on Russians competing.

Judo is not the first sports federation to relax the constraints around Russians.

The International Boxing Association (IBA), who at the time were responsible for boxing at the Olympics and run by Russian Umar Kremlev, had allowed boxers from Russia to compete under their national flag and the anthem to be played at competitions they organised.

The IJF said that judokas were not responsible for their government's actions -- though the IOC placed strict conditions on Russians appearing at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, barring any athletes who had made supportive statements surrounding the conflict.

"Sport is the last bridge that unites people and nations in very difficult conflict situations and environments," said the IJF.

"Athletes have no responsibility for the decisions of governments or other national institutions, and it is our duty to protect the sport and our athletes."

The Ukrainian federation hit back, saying: "Bridges are built where there is peace. Russia has brought only war to the world."

Whilst 19 Russians are competing in Abu Dhabi there will be 23 at next week's Tokyo Grand Slam which will also feature seven Ukrainians.

F.Young--SFF