Nine Belarusians to compete at World Taekwondo Championships as neutrals

May 23, BPN. Nine Belarusian taekwondo athletes will compete as neutrals at the world championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, from May 29 to June 4, World Taekwondo said.

The same status applies to 14 Russians, while two others were denied for backing the invasion of Ukraine, according to Inside the Games.

The athletes passed a three-step check to meet the criteria for the championships.

Ukraine boycotted the event because Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to participate.

The International Olympic Committee advised international sports federations to let Belarusian and Russian athletes compete as individual neutral athletes if they were not involved in the war or had ties with the police or military. Some federations followed this advice, while others banned them completely.

World Taekwondo allowed some Belarusians and Russians to enter its tournaments under the neutral flag last month.