MOSCOW, September 6. /TASS/. Russian fencers will be unable to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in France, Ilgar Mamedov, the president of the Fencing Federation of Russia (FFR) said on Wednesday.

"We do not have a common stance on this issue, but if we are talking about our federation, the reality is that we will be unable to qualify for the Olympics," he said.

"Firstly, half a year’s worth of qualifying tournaments have already passed. Secondly, our top athletes have been barred," Mamedov said.

On March 10, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international competitions under a neutral status and in line with recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

At its session on January 25, 2023, the IOC Executive Board put forward a proposal to permit individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international sports tournaments, but only under certain conditions. Athletes from the countries in question should not be "actively supporting" Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and must compete under a neutral status.

The International Fencing Federation followed IOC’s recommendations and did not issue neutral status permits to Russian fencers representing CSKA and Dinamo sports clubs. Only five Russian athletes took part in the 2023 European Fencing Championship in June.

Paris is scheduled to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games between July 26 and August 11, 2024.