The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) Board of Directors has approved a revised and conditional framework governing the membership, participation and future reintegration of the Member National Federations of Belarus and Russia.

The decision rescinds the national federation membership suspensions and the general prohibition on participation by athletes and teams that the WFDF Board adopted at an emergency meeting on 2 March 2022. At that time, WFDF suspended the Russian Flying Disc Federation and the Belarusian Flying Disc Federation, barred athletes and officials from both countries from WFDF-sanctioned events, and determined that no WFDF-sanctioned events would be awarded to either country until further notice.

The revised policy takes effect immediately, subject to the conditions described below and to continuing review of relevant decisions and guidance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the World Anti-Doping Agency and other competent international sporting authorities. The reinstatement may be reconsidered, modified or reversed if circumstances materially change or if either federation fails to comply with WFDF requirements.

“This is an exceptionally difficult issue for international sport, and reasonable people within our global community hold strongly differing views,” said WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “WFDF unequivocally condemns the continuing violence, destruction and human suffering in Ukraine, just as we condemn violence against civilians and violations of human dignity anywhere in the world. Our solidarity with the Ukrainian Flying Disc Federation and the people affected by the war remains unchanged. At the same time, a fundamental principle emphasized by the IOC is that athletes should not be discriminated against or held personally responsible for the actions and policies of their governments. The right of eligible athletes to compete must therefore carry substantial weight in our decision-making.

Sport aspires to political neutrality, but it does not operate outside politics. Governments and political leaders frequently use sport to promote national policies and narratives, and international sporting success is routinely presented through national teams, flags, and country medal tables. These realities make complete separation between sport and international politics extremely difficult, if not impossible.

WFDF is a relatively small international federation with only 20 million practitioners whose primary expertise and resources are devoted to governing and developing flying disc sport. We do not have the institutional capacity or geopolitical expertise to adjudicate the many complex, politically charged and often conflicting positions held by governments and by our members around the world. For that reason, while retaining responsibility for our own statutes, competitions and values, WFDF believes that the most consistent and sustainable approach is to align its participation framework with the policy direction of the IOC and to continue monitoring its implementation.”

WFDF’s action follows a series of changes in IOC policy. In December 2025, the IOC recommended that youth athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports should no longer face participation restrictions in international youth competitions. In May 2026, the IOC stated that it no longer recommended restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes. On 7 July 2026, the IOC provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and stated that its earlier recommendations to International Federations concerning restrictions on Russian athletes’ participation were no longer applicable.

The IOC has emphasized the principle of non-discrimination and the position that athletes should not bear responsibility for the conduct of their governments. It has also stated that the Russian Olympic Committee and related activity in Ukrainian territories will remain under close monitoring, and that further measures may be taken if circumstances warrant. Certain matters, including the use of Russian flags, colors and anthems at future Olympic Games, remain subject to separate IOC determination.

Under the WFDF framework, the Belarusian and Russian Member National Federations will be required to resume all normal membership obligations, including completion of the WFDF Annual Census, payment of applicable membership dues, compliance with WFDF governance and eligibility requirements, and adherence to all anti-doping, safeguarding, event and disciplinary regulations.

The removal of the general participation prohibition does not create an automatic entitlement for Belarusian and Russian athletes and teams to enter an event after registration deadlines have passed or after competition places have been allocated. Because registration timelines have expired and available team places are limited for current events, the first practical opportunities for Russian and Belarusian athletes or national teams to participate in WFDF-sanctioned championship events are expected to arise in 2027.

WFDF will separately determine the conditions applicable to event hosting, government or state officials, national symbols and other forms of official representation, taking account of current IOC guidance, the requirements of event hosts, applicable law, security considerations and the circumstances of each competition. No WFDF event will be awarded to Russia or Belarus unless and until the Board expressly approves such hosting following a separate review.

WFDF recognizes that this decision will be welcomed by some members and opposed by others. The Board has sought to distinguish between condemnation of war and violence, which remains unequivocal, and the eligibility of individual athletes to participate in sport. The revised framework is intended to provide a principled and transparent basis for future decisions rather than requiring ad hoc responses to individual participation requests.

WFDF will continue to support the Ukrainian Flying Disc Federation and the wider flying disc community affected by the war, and will keep the policy under review in light of developments within the Olympic Movement and the international sporting environment.

For more information, contact:
Robert “Nob” Rauch
President
World Flying Disc Federation
admin@wfdf.sport