ITF Position on Belarus and Russia Remains Unchanged

By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, May 8, 2026
Photo credit: Cincinnati Open Facebook

The IOC ended its restrictions on Belarusian athletes, but the ITF’s sanctions on the Russian and Belarusian Tennis Federation remain in effect.

Belarus and Russia remained banned from international tennis team competition, while players from those nations continue to compete under a neutral flag.

“The International Tennis Federation confirms that the IOC’s announcement does not change its existing position regarding the Belarus and Russian Tennis Federations’ suspensions which remain in place,” the ITF announced today. “The membership status of the Belarus Tennis Federation will be considered at the ITF Annual General Meeting in October by the ITF’s voting member nations (“The AGM Council”) in accordance with ITF constitutional process.”

When Russians Mirra Andreeva and Diana Schnaider won the Olympic doubles gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games they won it designated as Individual Neutral Athletes.

The ITF announcement comes a day after the International Olympic Committee announced it has eased restrictions on Belarusian athletes competing in Olympic events.

“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) no longer recommends any restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams, in competitions governed by International Federations (IFs) and international sports event organizers,” the IOC said. “The IOC EB today lifted the recommended conditions of participation for International Federations and international sports event organisers of 28 February 2022 and 28 March 2023 as they relate to Belarus and Belarusian athletes, including the protective measures.”

The IOC said its decision is based on athletes’ fundamental right to “access sport and compete free from political interference.”

“As the IOC continues to navigate the ever-increasing complex realities and consequences of the current geopolitical context, including the rising number of wars and conflicts, and amidst growing global instability, it must uphold its mission to preserve a values-based and truly global sporting platform that provides hope to the world,” the IOC said. “This objective has been reaffirmed through the wide-ranging discussions that have taken place as part of the “Fit for the Future” process, during which the fundamental right of athletes to access sport and compete free from political interference or governmental pressure was confirmed by the IOC Executive Board in September 2025 and reaffirmed at the Olympic Summit in December 2025.”

In tennis, Russian and Belarusian athletes continue to compete without their national flags. Russia and Belarus are not permitted to compete in Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup competition, a decision emanating from the ITF condemning Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and support from Belarus in the war.