Junior athletes from Russia and Belarus have been given the green light to participate in modern pentathlon championships under their national flags and with their national anthems being played, by decision of the International Modern Pentathlon Union.
This comes as a new step reflecting a gradual change in the international sporting position. Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev confirmed that the decision gives athletes the right to compete with their full national identity, including the flag, uniform, national anthem, and the official mention of the country’s name in tournaments.
This development follows a previous recommendation from the International Olympic Committee last December, calling for allowing young Russian athletes to participate in international competitions, with the implementation of the decision left to each international sports federation according to its own regulations.
This move is one of the first practical indications of easing the restrictions imposed since 2022, which led to the widespread exclusion of Russian athletes, with the exception of limited participation under a "neutral" status or through a change of sporting nationality.
Modern pentathlon is a complex competitive sport, in which the athlete who achieves the best overall result in five sports wins: fencing, swimming, hurdles, running, and shooting.
