UIPM Independent Panel decides on eligibility criteria, procedure and timelines for neutral athlete applications

The Independent Panel set up to review applications from athletes with Russia or Belarus passports who apply to compete as neutral athletes in UIPM Sports has decided on the eligibility criteria, application procedure and timelines.

The panel, chaired by three-time Olympian Aya Medany OLY (Egypt) and comprising Ana Ruth Orellana (Guatemala), Dr Sungjoo Park (Korea), Nishanthe Piyasena (Sri Lanka) and Dr Harald Vervaecke (Belgium), has aligned with the International Olympic Committee in establishing the definition of neutrality of Individual Neutral Athletes.

The panel is also in line with the United Nations with regard to the protection of individuals' rights.

UIPM’s application process opens on July 31, 2023 for those who wish to compete in UIPM Sports as Individual Neutral Athletes. No teams of athletes from Russia or Belarus will be allowed to compete, and the individual athlete applicants must satisfy the Independent Panel that they have never actively supported the war in Ukraine, do not serve the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies, and comply with anti-doping regulations.

Very similar rules apply to the eligibility criteria for support personnel (coaches and trainers, medical staff and physiotherapists, etc).

Application forms – available on request, along with the full criteria, procedures and timelines, from eligibility@pentathlon.org – must be sent to UIPM inside a window of 10 days beginning 90 days before the start of the relevant event.