The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has approved the return of Russian athletes, teams and technical officials to official international competitions, following updated guidance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The announcement came after the IOC provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and said earlier participation conditions for Russian athletes and teams no longer applied.
Russia’s national volleyball teams will also be restored to the FIVB World Ranking with the same points they held when their rankings were frozen.
The FIVB said decisions on the use of Russia’s flag, anthem, colours and other national symbols will be made later in consultation with the European Volleyball Confederation and other sports bodies.
It remains unclear when Russian teams will first return to competition. They will not feature at this year’s European Championship, but could be eligible for future editions of the Volleyball Nations League and world championship tournaments.
While confirming the decision, the FIVB said it remains concerned about the war in Ukraine, condemned all forms of violence and pledged to continue supporting Ukraine’s volleyball community.
