Russian and Belarusian Athletes Train in Occupied Territories While Competing as Neutrals

Russian Athletes Continue to Compete Despite War Propaganda Involvement

A growing number of Russian and Belarusian athletes with ties to Russia’s war propaganda machine are competing internationally under neutral status, raising concerns about the effectiveness of international sports sanctions.

Alsu Minazova, a Russian slalom canoeist who has participated in propaganda events alongside Russian officials, was permitted to compete in the Australian and Oceania Canoe Slalom Championships under a neutral status granted by the International Canoe Federation (ICF). Her case highlights a troubling pattern emerging in international sports governance.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) and Ministry of Youth and Sports have responded by launching “Champions of Terror,” a new section on the War&Sanctions portal that documents athletes from Russia and Belarus who support the war while continuing their international careers. The section currently profiles ten athletes who have visited occupied Ukrainian territories or participated in Russia’s propaganda events while maintaining their eligibility to compete internationally.

“What we’re seeing is a concerning disconnect between the stated policies of international federations and their implementation,” said an international sports policy expert who requested anonymity. “The neutral flag was meant to separate individual athletes from state actions, but it becomes meaningless when those same athletes actively promote state propaganda.”

The War&Sanctions portal serves as a comprehensive database tracking various aspects of Russian aggression. Beyond athletes, it documents foreign components used in Russian weapons, enterprises involved in arms production, sanctioned individuals, the deportation of Ukrainian children, and looted cultural heritage.

Among the notable cases highlighted on the portal is Yelena Kirillova (Nadel), who serves as the acting “Minister of Sports of Kherson Region” in Russian-occupied territory. Kirillova organizes propaganda sports events in occupied areas and conducts federal training sessions with Russian athletes, directly supporting the occupation regime.

Alina Garnasko, a Belarusian gymnast who participated in the pro-war festival “Time of Our Victories,” competed throughout 2025 in Bulgaria, Germany, and Portugal as a “neutral athlete” despite her public support for the Russian military campaign.

The portal also features Russian weightlifters Yana Sotiyeva, Regina Shaidullina, and Anastasia Romanova, who took part in training camps in occupied Ukrainian territories. These athletes were initially set to compete at the 2025 World Weightlifting Championship, but following Ukraine’s appeal and the public exposure of their activities, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) barred them from competition, along with ten other athletes from Russia and Belarus.

This success story demonstrates that public exposure and documentation can effectively counter attempts to normalize Russian aggression through sports diplomacy. Sports historians note this approach mirrors strategies used during the apartheid era when South African athletes faced international isolation.

The stakes for Ukrainian sports are particularly high. Russia’s invasion has killed over 500 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, decimating the country’s sporting community. Additionally, more than 500 sports facilities have been destroyed or damaged, including several Olympic training bases, severely hampering Ukraine’s athletic development.

International sports federations have adopted varying approaches to Russian and Belarusian participation since the invasion began. While some bodies have implemented strict verification processes, others have been criticized for superficial reviews of athletes’ connections to the war effort.

The International Olympic Committee’s recommendation that Russian and Belarusian athletes compete as neutrals provided they have not actively supported the war continues to be applied inconsistently across different sports, creating loopholes that the “Champions of Terror” initiative aims to close through public accountability.