The International Judo Federation has announced that it will reintegrate Russian athletes. The president of the federation, the Romanian Marius Vizer, is said to be close to Vladimir Putin.

The International Judo Federation (IJF) has announced the complete reintegration of Russian athletes, allowing them to participate in international competitions under their country's colors, including with the national anthem and flag. This decision, considered a 'first' for a sports federation from Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2022, will take effect starting with the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi in 2025.

The President of the Russian Judo Federation, Sergey Soloveitchik, welcomed this 'historic decision', deeming it fair and courageous. Previously, Russian and Belarusian judokas competed as neutral athletes, and Russia boycotted the 2024 Olympic judo competitions due to imposed restrictions. The IJF is led by the Romanian Marius Vizer, known for his ties to Vladimir Putin.