World Taekwondo Lifts Ban on Hosting Competitions in Russia

Sep. 15, 2026 @russiantaekwondo / Telegram Taekwondo’s global governing body has decided to allow Russia to host international competitions, the Russian Taekwondo Union said Tuesday. World Taekwondo initially suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes and canceled all Russia-based events in March 2022 after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Junior and senior taekwondo athletes from both countries were allowed to return in January, even before the International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted its ban on their national-level Olympic committees later this summer. World Taekwondo has not publicly confirmed the Russian federation’s announcement. Its 2026 and 2027 schedules do not list any events being held in Russia. “This year’s calendar is already set, so we should look toward 2027,” a Russian Taekwondo Union source told the state-run TASS news agency. Earlier this month, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) announced it would once again allow international competitions to be held in Russia starting Oct. 5. The FEI said it would continue to support Ukraine through a relief fund that it established in 2022 “to help address some of the urgent needs of the country’s equestrian community.” Other international federations, including aquatics, motorsport, modern pentathlon, wrestling and gymnastics, have also eased restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes. Read more about: Sports Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more In Photos: Russia Takes Home 8 Gold Medals at 2026 Winter Paralympics Russia finished third in the medal standings at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy after its athletes won eight gold medals, along with one silver and... 1 Min read International Judo Body Allows Russian Athletes to Compete Under Flag Again Russian Judo Federation president Sergei Soloveychik called the decision “historic,” saying he was pleased Russia had been reinstated. 2 Min read Russian Swimmer Missing After Bosphorus Race in Turkey Nikolai Svechnikov reportedly failed to reach the finish line of the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim, which drew more than 2,800 swimmers. 2 Min read Russian Gymnastics Federation Announces Return to International Competitions The federation said Russian gymnasts will compete in several upcoming events, but did not say whether they would do so under the Russian flag. 1 Min read