SEOUL, September 15. /TASS/. World Taekwondo has lifted all previously imposed restrictions on the organization of international tournaments in Russia, the Russian Taekwondo Federation announced in a statement on Tuesday.
The decision was made at the World Taekwondo extraordinary session in Chuncheon, South Korea.
World Taekwondo’s decision to lift restrictions on holding international competitions in Russia is important for Russian sports, stated Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev.
"I congratulate the Russian Taekwondo Federation, all our athletes practicing this sport and martial arts enthusiasts on yet another important decision in favor of our sport," Degtyarev, who also serves as the president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), stated on his Telegram channel.
"World Taekwondo consistently adheres to the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee [IOC] and was among the first to allow Russian athletes to participate in its competitions without restrictions, and now it has lifted the ban on tournaments in Russia," he continued.
"Earlier, in July, at the IOC Executive Board meeting, the status of the Russian Olympic Committee was restored, and all restrictions on Russian athletes were lifted, including the possibility of holding competitions in our country at the discretion of the federations," Russia’s sports chief added.
The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier recommended that international federations lift all previously imposed restrictions on Russian athletes. The issue of organizing international tournaments in Russia is within the competence of international sports federations.
In late January, World Taekwondo announced a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian junior and adult athletes to participate in international tournaments under the national flags and to the tune of their countries’ anthems.
The IOC also announced a decision in July to reinstate the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and also recommended lifting restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes in all international tournaments, including both in individual and team competitions.