Statement - Eligibility of Russian & Belarusian athletes at Paris 2024
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has published the following statement regarding the Paris 2024 Olympic Tennis Event and Paralympic Tennis Event:
“The International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee will allow qualified and eligible athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as Individual Neutral Athletes (“AIN”) and Paralympic Games as Neutral Paralympic Athletes (“NPA”). The ITF confirms that tennis players from these nations will be allowed to enter the Olympic and Paralympic tennis competitions in an individual and neutral capacity if they comply with the IOC’s AIN and the IPC’s NPA principles. Neutral athletes will need to meet the selection and eligibility requirements as set out in the applicable ITF Regulations.
“The ITF decision aligns with the majority of International Federations (IFs) regarding individual competition and athletes participating in the Paris 2024 Games this summer. The ITF’s position is also in accordance with tennis’ existing international policy which was adopted in March 2022.
“As part of the Qualification System for the Olympic Tennis Event, provisions in the ITF regulations allow nations to apply to the ITF Olympic Committee for an exemption from the minimum Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup participation requirements when these have not been met by individual players. As the Russian and Belarusian national tennis federations are currently suspended from ITF membership, there will be a revised process for these two nations. For Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) with a Russian passport, the ITF will liaise with the IOC. For Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) with a Belarusian passport, the ITF will liaise with the Belarus Olympic Committee (BOC).
“As per the IOC’s Principles of Participation for Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), in the case of athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports, the ITF will propose a final list to the IOC, together with the criteria and reasoning used to confirm eligibility. The IOC AIN Eligibility Review Panel will review these lists for a final decision on entry.
“As part of the Qualification System for the Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event, provisions in the ITF regulations allow nations to apply to the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Committee for an exemption from the minimum World Team Cup participation requirements when these have not been met by individual players. As the Russian and Belarusian national tennis federations are currently suspended from ITF membership, there will be a revised process for these two nations. For Neutral Paralympic Athletes (NPA) with a Russian passport, the ITF will liaise with the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC). For Neutral Paralympic Athletes (NPA) with a Belarusian passport, the ITF will liaise with the Belarus Paralympic Committee (BPC).
"As per the IPC’s Neutral Athlete and Support Personnel Regulations, in the case of athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports, the ITF (through the RPC/BPC) will propose a final list to the IPC, together with the criteria and reasoning used to confirm eligibility. The IPC will review these lists for a final decision on entry."
Related links:
Paris 2024 Olympic Tennis Event qualification system
Paris 2024 Olympic Tennis Event eligibility
Paris 2024 Paralympic Tennis Event qualification system
Paris 2024 Paralympic Tennis Event eligibility
ITF suspends Russia, Belarus from ITF membership and team competitions