Sabalenka, Medvedev to remain neutral athletes as ITF rejects IOC policy shift
Synopsis
The ITF has drawn a line where other sports bodies have bent. While the IOC, IPC, and swimming and judo federations have eased restrictions on Belarusian and Russian athletes, tennis is holding firm — at least until October's AGM. For Sabalenka and Medvedev, neutral status remains their only path to competition.
Key Takeaways
The ITF confirmed on 8 May that Belarus and Russian tennis federation suspensions remain in place, rejecting the IOC 's policy shift.
Aryna Sabalenka (four-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus ) and Daniil Medvedev (world No.
9, 2021 US Open champion from Russia ) will continue as neutral athletes.
The IOC announced that Belarusian athletes can now compete under their national identity, but tennis has not followed suit.
The International Paralympic Committee , International Judo Federation , and FINA have already lifted restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
The ITF will review the issue at its October AGM , where member nations will reconsider the Belarus Tennis Federation 's membership status.
Both nations remain barred from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup .
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev will continue competing under neutral status despite a significant policy reversal by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The International Tennis Federation (ITF) confirmed on 8 May that its suspension of the Belarus and Russian tennis federations remains in force, standing apart from the IOC's decision to allow Belarusian athletes to compete under their national identity.
IOC's Policy Shift
On Thursday, the IOC announced that athletes from Belarus can now compete under their national flags and country names in events conducted by International Sports Federations, removing the requirement for neutral-status vetting. The decision came as other governing bodies — including the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), International Judo Federation, and International Swimming Federation (FINA) — had already lifted restrictions on Russian and Belarusian competitors.
ITF's Stance Remains Unchanged
The ITF issued a statement asserting that the IOC's announcement does not alter tennis's position. "The International Tennis Federation confirms that the IOC's announcement does not change its existing position regarding the Belarus and Russian Tennis Federations' suspensions, which remain in place," the governing body stated. The ITF indicated that the issue will be reviewed at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in October, where voting member nations will reconsider the membership status of the Belarus Tennis Federation in accordance with constitutional procedures.
Impact on Players and Competitions
Since the conflict began, players from Belarus and Russia have competed without national flags or country designations in sanctioned tournaments. Both nations remain barred from major team competitions, including the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup. Tournaments scheduled in the two countries were cancelled.
Player Profiles
Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus, has maintained her position as the world's top-ranked player while operating under neutral status. Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion from Russia, currently ranks world No. 9. Both have continued to compete in major tournaments despite the restrictions.
Point of View
Not simply an athlete-eligibility one. The real pressure point is October's AGM: if member nations vote to reinstate the Belarus Tennis Federation, the neutral-athlete rule collapses overnight. Sabalenka's dominance as a neutral — and Medvedev's top-10 ranking — proves that restrictions haven't crippled these players, but the asymmetry with other sports creates diplomatic friction. The ITF's holding pattern is pragmatic but unsustainable if the geopolitical winds shift further.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Sabalenka and Medvedev competing as neutral athletes?
Both players are from suspended tennis federations — Sabalenka from Belarus and Medvedev from Russia — following the conflict in Ukraine. The ITF's suspension of both federations requires their athletes to compete without national flags or country designations.
Did the IOC's policy shift affect tennis?
No. On 8 May, the IOC announced that Belarusian athletes can now compete under their national identity, but the ITF confirmed this does not change tennis's existing restrictions. The ITF's Belarus and Russian federation suspensions remain in place.
When will the ITF review its position on Belarus and Russian athletes?
The ITF will reconsider the issue at its Annual General Meeting in October, where voting member nations will decide on the membership status of the Belarus Tennis Federation in accordance with ITF constitutional procedures.
Are Belarus and Russian players barred from all competitions?
Players from both nations compete in individual tournaments under neutral status. However, both nations are barred from team competitions including the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Tournaments scheduled in Belarus and Russia were also cancelled.
How have other sports bodies responded to the Ukraine conflict?
The International Paralympic Committee, International Judo Federation, and FINA have all lifted restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes, allowing them to compete under their national identity or with fewer restrictions than tennis currently imposes.
