Blab Sports
Russias War in Ukraine Continues to Shape International Sports, From NHL to Roland Garros
When Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022, the shockwaves were felt far beyond the front lines, reaching the arenas, courts, and ice rinks that define global sport.
The conflict has prompted governing bodies to reassess the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. In hockey, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) suspended Russia from most international events, citing security concerns and the inability to guarantee safe participation. The National Hockey League (NHL) mirrored that stance in February 2025 when it staged a “Four Nations Face‑Off” in Montreal and Boston featuring Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States—Russia was not invited. While the NHL offered no formal explanation, officials’ omission of Russia was widely interpreted as a response to the geopolitical situation.
Russia’s exclusion has persisted. The IIHF’s suspension has been extended repeatedly since the 2022 invasion, keeping Russian national teams out of the World Championships and other IIHF tournaments. The NHL’s 2025 event followed the IIHF’s lead, underscoring the broader sports community’s consensus on Russian participation.
Tennis has taken a different route. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that Russian and Belarusian players may compete in individual events but must do so as “neutral athletes.” Under that status, a player’s flag, country name, and national anthem are removed from official displays. The policy applies to Grand Slam tournaments and the ATP/WTA tours.
The 2026 French Open (Roland Garros) illustrated the neutral policy in action. In the women’s quarter‑finals, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka—who has repeatedly said she does not support the war and is “just a tennis player”—appeared in match graphics without a national flag. Sabalenka has voiced frustration when asked to comment on political matters.
Mirra Andreeva, a 19‑year‑old Russian, won the 2026 French Open. During her acceptance speech she spoke in Russian, and two supporters were seen waving a Russian flag. Security instructed them to put the flag away, highlighting the strict enforcement of the neutral athlete rule at the tournament.
The neutral athlete framework extends to the Olympic Games. The ITF confirmed that Russian and Belarusian tennis players will enter the Paris 2024 Olympics as neutrals. The policy has been in place since the 2022 invasion and is consistent across the Olympic movement.
In 2022, Wimbledon briefly banned Russian and Belarusian players from competing, but the ban was reversed later that year. Allowing neutral participation in most tennis events reflects a balance between preserving competition integrity and responding to the geopolitical situation.
The war’s reach has also affected other sports. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) permitted the 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing, China, despite human‑rights concerns. That decision, separate from tennis and hockey policies, illustrates the varied responses of international sports bodies to geopolitical events.
For athletes from Russia and Belarus, the environment remains complex. They can compete, but only under neutral status, and they often face questions from media and fans about their political views. The IIHF, ATP, WTA, and ITF policies aim to separate athletic competition from state actions, yet the situation continues to spark debate within the sports community.
The neutral athlete framework will apply to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and to future tennis tournaments. The IIHF’s suspension of Russia remains in force for the foreseeable future, and the NHL’s 2025 Four Nations Face‑Off will not include Russia. These policies underscore the ongoing influence of the Russo‑Ukrainian war on international sport.
The situation remains fluid. Any changes to the neutral athlete status or to the participation of Russian teams in international competitions would be announced by the respective governing bodies. Until then, Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete under neutral flags, and Russian national teams will remain excluded from IIHF events.
The conflict has prompted governing bodies to reassess the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. In hockey, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) suspended Russia from most international events, citing security concerns and the inability to guarantee safe participation. The National Hockey League (NHL) mirrored that stance in February 2025 when it staged a “Four Nations Face‑Off” in Montreal and Boston featuring Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States—Russia was not invited. While the NHL offered no formal explanation, officials’ omission of Russia was widely interpreted as a response to the geopolitical situation.
Russia’s exclusion has persisted. The IIHF’s suspension has been extended repeatedly since the 2022 invasion, keeping Russian national teams out of the World Championships and other IIHF tournaments. The NHL’s 2025 event followed the IIHF’s lead, underscoring the broader sports community’s consensus on Russian participation.
Tennis has taken a different route. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that Russian and Belarusian players may compete in individual events but must do so as “neutral athletes.” Under that status, a player’s flag, country name, and national anthem are removed from official displays. The policy applies to Grand Slam tournaments and the ATP/WTA tours.
The 2026 French Open (Roland Garros) illustrated the neutral policy in action. In the women’s quarter‑finals, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka—who has repeatedly said she does not support the war and is “just a tennis player”—appeared in match graphics without a national flag. Sabalenka has voiced frustration when asked to comment on political matters.
Mirra Andreeva, a 19‑year‑old Russian, won the 2026 French Open. During her acceptance speech she spoke in Russian, and two supporters were seen waving a Russian flag. Security instructed them to put the flag away, highlighting the strict enforcement of the neutral athlete rule at the tournament.
The neutral athlete framework extends to the Olympic Games. The ITF confirmed that Russian and Belarusian tennis players will enter the Paris 2024 Olympics as neutrals. The policy has been in place since the 2022 invasion and is consistent across the Olympic movement.
In 2022, Wimbledon briefly banned Russian and Belarusian players from competing, but the ban was reversed later that year. Allowing neutral participation in most tennis events reflects a balance between preserving competition integrity and responding to the geopolitical situation.
The war’s reach has also affected other sports. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) permitted the 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing, China, despite human‑rights concerns. That decision, separate from tennis and hockey policies, illustrates the varied responses of international sports bodies to geopolitical events.
For athletes from Russia and Belarus, the environment remains complex. They can compete, but only under neutral status, and they often face questions from media and fans about their political views. The IIHF, ATP, WTA, and ITF policies aim to separate athletic competition from state actions, yet the situation continues to spark debate within the sports community.
The neutral athlete framework will apply to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and to future tennis tournaments. The IIHF’s suspension of Russia remains in force for the foreseeable future, and the NHL’s 2025 Four Nations Face‑Off will not include Russia. These policies underscore the ongoing influence of the Russo‑Ukrainian war on international sport.
The situation remains fluid. Any changes to the neutral athlete status or to the participation of Russian teams in international competitions would be announced by the respective governing bodies. Until then, Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete under neutral flags, and Russian national teams will remain excluded from IIHF events.
