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Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA) and Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) are a capacity under which athletes can compete at international sporting competitions without representing their nations, as is standard convention under the
Olympic Charter The Olympic Charter is a set of rules and guidelines for the organisation of the Olympic Games, and for governing the Olympic movement. Its last revision was on the 17th of July 2020 during the List of IOC meetings, 136th IOC Session, held by v ...
. As of August 2022, only
Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...
and Belarusian athletes of some sports have competed or are competing within the ANA capacity. Originally introduced in athletics in 2017 following the
Russian doping scandal Systematic doping of Russian athletes has resulted in 51 Olympic medals stripped from Russia (and Russian associated teams), four times the number of the next highest, and more than 30% of the global total. Russia has the most competitors who ...
which first came to light in December 2014, the term was introduced to other sports following the
Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
in February 2022. Quoting a breach of the
Olympic Truce The Olympic Truce is a tradition originating from ancient Greece that dates back to 776 BC. A " truce" () was announced before and during the Olympic Games to ensure the host city state ( Elis) was not attacked and athletes and spectators could t ...
by the Russian government in which Belarus was complicit, the
International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; , CIO) is the international, non-governmental, sports governing body of the modern Olympic Games. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is based i ...
(IOC) recommended suspending all teams, officials and competitors from
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
and
Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
from being involved in sport due to security concerns, while allowing individuals to compete in a neutral capacity.


Russian doping scandal and athletics

The idea of competing as "neutral athletes" was first proposed in 2016 by the
World Anti-Doping Agency The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA; , AMA) is an international organization co-founded by the governments of over 140 nations along with the International Olympic Committee based in Canada to promote, coordinate, and monitor the fight against d ...
and the governing body of athletics, International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) at the conclusion of an investigation into Russian state manipulation of doping controls. Around the same time, Russian track and field athlete Yuliya Stepanova requested to compete as a neutral instead of representing her country at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. The IOC ruled against the proposal stating that it ran contrary to the Olympic Charter, also announcing they would continue to permit Russian competitors at the games subject to approval by the international federation concerned of the sports composing the games, and doping clearance approved outside of Russia. The IAAF had already imposed an outright ban on track and field athletes competing but following an appeal at the
Court of Arbitration for Sport The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS; , TAS) is an international body established in 1984 to settle disputes related to sport through arbitration. Its headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland, and its courts are located in New York City, Sy ...
by
Darya Klishina Darya Igorevna Klishina (, born 15 January 1991) is a Russian long jumper. Early life Klishina was born in 1991 in Tver, Russian SFSR. At the age of eight, she began playing volleyball, and at thirteen changed her preference for athletics in lo ...
, a Russian Long Jumper based in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, the IAAF was forced to allow athletes who passed anti-doping test outside of Russia. Klishina was the only track and field athlete to represent Russia at the 2016 Olympic Games.In April 2017 at
IAAF World Championships in Athletics The World Athletics Championships, known as the IAAF World Championships in Athletics until 2019, are a biennial athletics competition organized by World Athletics, formerly International Association of Athletics Federations. Alongside Olympic ...
of London 2017, with the IAAF free to apply their own rules, approved the participation of a group of 19 Russians competing as neutral athletes, the first time the Authorised Neutral Athlete term was used. A total of eight athletes competed as neutrals at the
2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships The 17th IAAF World Indoor Championships was held from 1 to 4 March 2018 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. This was the city's second hosting of the event as it previously did so in 2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships, 2003. Bidding process Birmin ...
. A total of nine athletes competed as neutrals at the
2018 IAAF World U20 Championships The 2018 World Athletics U20 Championships, World U20 Championships in Athletics, also known as the World Junior Championships, was an international athletics competition for athletes qualifying as juniors (born no earlier than 1 January 1999) ...
. A total of 30 athletes competed as neutrals at the 2018 European Athletics Championships. A total of 29 athletes competed as neutrals at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.


Russian invasion of Ukraine

In response to the invasion, many sports' governing bodies immediately banned Russians and Belarusians from competing altogether, including in athletics whose Russians were already competing as authorised neutrals. In tennis, the
International Tennis Federation The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the governing body of world tennis, wheelchair tennis, and beach tennis. It was founded in 1913 as the International Lawn Tennis Federation by twelve national tennis associations. there are 211 nat ...
allowed Russians and Belarusians to continue playing as individuals without any national representation, but did not implement any designated group or category name. In motorsport, the Federation Internationale d'Automobile, a recognised International Sports Federation by the IOC, followed the recommendation to allow drivers, competitors and officials to continue competing in a neutral capacity. Although the FIA press release used the terms Authorised Neutral Competitor (ANC), Authorised Neutral Driver (AND) and Authorised Neutral Official (ANO), it was widely accepted that the term Authorised Neutral Athlete could also be used. Indeed, in the
FIA World Rally Championship The World Rally Championship (abbreviated as WRC) is an international rallying series owned and governed by the FIA. Inaugurated in 1973, it is the oldest FIA world championship after Formula One. Each season lasts one calendar year, and typi ...
, Russians including
Nikolay Gryazin Nikolay Stanislavovich Gryazin ( rus, Николай Станиславович Грязин, p=nʲɪkɐˈɫaɪ̯ stənʲɪˈsɫavəvʲɪt͡ɕ ˈɡrʲæzʲɪn; born 7 October 1997) is a Russian-Bulgarian rally driver currently competing under a ...
and Konstantin Aleksandrov began competing under the Authorised Neutral Athlete flag immediately following the ruling. Whilst it is not confirmed as the intended reason, this helps to avoid confusion with the
country code A country code is a short alphanumeric identification code for countries and dependent areas. Its primary use is in data processing and communications. Several identification systems have been developed. The term ''country code'' frequently re ...
AND for
Andorra Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, is a Sovereignty, sovereign landlocked country on the Iberian Peninsula, in the eastern Pyrenees in Southwestern Europe, Andorra–France border, bordered by France to the north and Spain to A ...
. In FIA Formula Three circuit racing, Russian driver
Alexander Smolyar Alexander Alexandrovich Smolyar (; born 19 July 2001) is a Russians, Russian racing driver currently competing in the 2023 Russian Circuit Racing Series, TCR Russian Touring Car Championship, driving for Lukoil Racing, Lukoil Racing Team. He pre ...
is included on entry lists as having an 'AND' license, meanwhile in the
GT World Challenge Europe GT World Challenge Europe (known as the Blancpain GT Series between 2014 and 2019) is a sports car racing series organised by SRO Motorsports Group. It features grand tourer racing cars modified from production road cars complying with the FIA's ...
, Russian drivers appear on entry lists as having ND license and nationality on profiles and no flag is ever presented in either championship. In cycling, the
Union Cycliste Internationale The Union Cycliste Internationale (; UCI; ) is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland. The UCI issues racing licenses to riders and enforces di ...
(UCI) also permitted athletes to continue competing in a neutral capacity whilst banning all Russian and Belarusian teams, officials and events. The UCI requested event organisers to replace the names, emblems and colours of the two countries with a ''"neutral reference or denomination"''. So far, affected cyclists have not raced under any form of neutral name in events such as the
Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage cycle sport, bicycle race held primarily in France. It is the oldest and most prestigious of the three Grand Tour (cycling), Grand Tours, which include the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a ...
. In the Olga Kharlan handshaking incident at the
2023 World Fencing Championships The 2023 World Fencing Championships were held from 22 to 30 July 2023 in Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-mo ...
, Russian sabre fencer competed as an Authorised Neutral Athlete against Ukrainian
Olga Kharlan Olha Hennadiivna Kharlan (; born 4 September 1990), also known as Olga Kharlan, is a Ukrainian Sabre (fencing), sabre Fencing, fencer. She is a four-time individual women’s world sabre champion, six-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated ...
. In the bout, Kharlan defeated Smirnova 15–7. At the time, and since July 1, 2020 (and reconfirmed by FIE public notice in September 2020 and in January 2021), by public written notice the FIE had replaced its previous handshake requirement with a "salute" by the opposing fencers, and written in its public notice that handshakes were "suspended until further notice." At the end of the bout the fencers came to the center of the strip and Smirnova extended her hand to Kharlan, who in turn extended her saber in an offer to the Russian to tap blades. Kharlan said her choice of salute was meant as a sign of respect for her Russian opponent, while still acknowledging the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. She said:
I proposed the salute with the blade, she didn’t want to do it and the referee told me I could leave, and after that I warmed up for the next bout, then ... they said they wanted to talk to me. I was informed that I had received the black card, but I don’t think it was the referee. The referee’s decision – he continued – was not to give the black card. It is very cruel even towards him, it is very cruel for everyone.
Kharlan said that FIE interim president Emmanuel Katsiadakis, who had succeeded Russian oligarch
Alisher Usmanov Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov (, ; born 9 September 1953) is a Russian-Uzbek oligarch. He is sanctioned by the US, EU, UK, and Ukrainian governments. By March 2025, Usmanov had an estimated net worth of $16.7 billion and was ranked number 124 a ...
as head of the FIE in 2022, had assured her the day prior that it was "possible" not to shake hands, and to instead offer a touch of her blade. She said: "I thought I had his word, to be safe, but apparently, no." Kharlan then walked away, while Smirnova refused to leave the
piste A ''piste'' () is a marked ski run or path down a mountain for snow skiing, snowboarding, or other mountain sports. This European term is French
and made a 45-minute long sit-down protest. This was followed by Kharlan being disqualified by FIE officials. The decision was reversed the following day.


See also

* Authorised Neutral Athletes at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics * Authorised Neutral Athletes at the 2018 European Athletics Championships * Authorised Neutral Athletes at the 2019 World Athletics Championships * Athlete Refugee Team * Independent Olympic Athletes * Unified Team, designation of post-Soviet state athletes for 1992 events * Olympic Athletes from Russia, designation for cleared athletes at the 2018 Winter Olympics *
Commonwealth of Independent States The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a regional organization, regional intergovernmental organization in Eurasia. It was formed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It covers an ar ...
(
CIS national football team The Commonwealth of Independent States national football team (, ''Sbornaya SNG po futbolu'') was a transitional national team of the Football Federation of the Soviet Union in 1992. It was accepted that the team would represent the Commonweal ...
competed at the
UEFA Euro 1992 The 1992 UEFA European Football Championship was hosted by Sweden between 10 and 26 June 1992. It was the ninth UEFA European Championship, which is held every four years and supported by UEFA. Denmark won the 1992 championship, having been inv ...
) *
Russian Olympic Committee The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) is the National Olympic Committee representing Russia. Its current president during IOC suspension is Mikhail Degtyarev. The membership of ROC is currently suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC ...
**
Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympics Prior to the 2019 decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the Russian Federation was expected to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which took place from 23 July to 8 August 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It would h ...
**
Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2022 Winter Olympics Russian athletes competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, from 4 to 20 February 2022, under the "Russian Olympic Committee" designation (using the acronym "ROC") due to the consequences of the doping scandal in the country. On 9 ...
*
Individual Neutral Athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics Individual Neutral Athletes was the name used to represent approved individual Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned those nations' previous designations due to the Rus ...


References


External links


Authorised Neutral Athlete - Countries - IAAF World Championships London 2017
{{Nations at the World Championships in Athletics Independent athletes Athletics in Russia 2017 World Championships in Athletics 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships