World Boxing announced Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian boxers can compete as neutral athletes, adopting a policy similar to the International Olympic Committee's stance. Athletes from these nations will participate as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), meaning they will not display national flags, anthems, logos, or uniforms, and will undergo a vetting process.
This decision comes after World Boxing's executive board approved membership applications from the Russian and Belarusian boxing federations in March. The AIN procedure will be enforced across all age-group competitions organized by World Boxing, European Boxing, and international events managed by national federations, including coaches and support staff.
The new measures are effective immediately, with official notification sent to the respective boxing federations.