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The traditional selection criteria for tennis players at the Olympic Games stipulate that an athlete must rank within the top 56 globally and participate in at least two matches for their national team during the Olympic cycle.
However, notwithstanding these regulations, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced its decision to admit tennis players holding Russian and Belarusian passports to the 2024 Olympics.
Due to restrictions imposed on tennis players from Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, athletes were unable to participate in team sports, and these sanctions also affected their eligibility for the Olympic Games.
In a statement issued by the organization, it is stated that the Olympic Committees of Russia and Belarus may appeal to the ITF Olympic Committee to exempt tennis players from the rule requiring participation in the national team. Athletes are unable to represent their country on the international stage as they have been excluded from participation in the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.
“The ITF confirms that tennis players from these countries will be permitted to participate in Olympic and Paralympic tennis competitions on an individual and neutral basis if they adhere to the IOC principles regarding neutral athletes.”
Within the qualification system for participation in Olympic tennis competitions, ITF regulations allow countries to petition the ITF Olympic Committee to be exempted from the minimum requirements for participation in the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup if these requirements have not been met by individual players.
As the national tennis federations of Russia and Belarus have suspended their memberships in the ITF, the procedure for these two countries will be reviewed.
The ITF will maintain communication with the IOC regarding individual neutral athletes (AIN) with Russian passports.
The ITF will maintain communication with the Belarusian Olympic Committee regarding individual neutral athletes (AIN) with Belarusian passports.
According to the principles of participation, the IOC for individual neutral athletes (AIN), in the case of athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports, the ITF will present the IOC with a final list along with the criteria and arguments used to confirm the right to participate in the competitions.
The IOC Commission will consider these lists to make a final decision on admission to the competitions”.