A small step for United World Wrestling, a big one for Russia. The board of the International Wrestling Federation has decided to let Russian athletes participate under the UWW flag, and no longer under a neutral banner, reports the TASS agency. "By decision of the board, starting from the tournament in Zagreb, our wrestlers will take to the mat under the flag of UWW. And this is an important step forward", commented Georgy Bryusov, Secretary General of the Russian Wrestling Federation. They were previously in the running as Neutral Individual Athletes (AIN). The UWW had already relaxed rules for admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes in September by reducing the list of reasons for exclusion to direct participation in the military operation or to public statements in support of this war. A small victory for Russian sports officials, who demand at the slightest opportunity to be reinstated in international competitions.
