The Kremlin is signaling a resurgence in Russia's participation in international sports, citing dialogue with the IOC and various federations. Following FIDE's decision to readmit Russia, and with similar moves by the International Judo Federation and the International Sambo Federation, Russia is seeing a gradual lifting of restrictions. While the Russian Olympic Committee remains suspended and Russia is barred from hosting major events, several federations are allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags and anthems. The IOC is also reviewing its neutrality standards, acknowledging the need for clarification and emphasizing the importance of athletes' access to competition without political interference, though implementation will vary by federation.

The International SAMBO Federation (FIAS) announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete under their national flags and anthems in all international events starting January 1, 2026. This decision, reversing the neutral status imposed since 2022, is a major step towards full normalization. Previously, in June 2025, the {392: {names: {en: "International Paralympic Committee"}}} voted to reinstate the full membership rights of the National Paralympic Committees of Russia and Belarus, and the {163: {names: {en: "International Judo Federation"}}} had reinstated full national representation for Belarusian athletes in June 2025, extending this right to Russian judokas in November 2025.

World Taekwondo is facing criticism for its handling of an incident at the World Under-21 Taekwondo Championships in Nairobi where Iranian athlete Rozhan Goudarzi withdrew to avoid competing against an Israeli opponent. The federation's silence and the unexpected rule change that placed Goudarzi in this position have raised concerns about athlete protection and political neutrality. The incident underscores the vulnerabilities of Iranian athletes facing pressure not to compete against Israelis, violating the Olympic Charter. Unlike the International Judo Federation, World Taekwondo has not taken a strong stance on the issue.

The International Judo Federation (163) lifted sanctions on Russian athletes, allowing them to compete under their national flag at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. This decision, influenced by potential ceasefire developments, led to Russia's participation with significant success, winning multiple gold medals. The event also saw strong performances from Japan, Germany, and other nations.

The International Judo Federation (IJF) has reinstated full national representation for Russian athletes, allowing them to compete under their flag, anthem, and insignia, starting with the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2025. This decision has drawn immediate condemnation from the Ukrainian Judo Federation (UJF), which views it as a violation of {458}'s recommendations. The UJF argues the move disregards the ongoing war and the deaths of Ukrainian citizens, while the Russian Judo Federation welcomed the decision. This makes the IJF a key test case regarding political neutrality in sports, contrasting with {392}'s decision to lift some restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes.