Russian, Belarusian Fencers Cleared To Compete After Vote

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (left) and Russian fencing's two-time Olympic champion, Karina Aznavuryan, give a fencing master class in Moscow in 2015.

Russian and Belarusian fencers will be allowed to compete in International Fencing Federation (FIE) events after the matter was put to a vote at its extraordinary congress on March 10. Athletes from the two countries were banned from many international competitions after Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Belarus has been a key staging area for Moscow's invasion. But in January, the International Olympic Committee had set out a path for athletes from the two countries to earn slots for the Olympics through Asian qualifying and to compete as neutrals, with some federations now allowing them back. To read the original story by Reuters, click here.