The FIM’s ban on Russian and Belarusian riders in races and series under their sanction will remain for the start of 2026. It has been in place since March 5, 2022, shortly after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The verdict came after the FIM’s Board of Directors convened in Lyon on February 4 and 5, their first meeting of the year. Federation president Jorge Viegas was present alongside a contingent of 26 other FIM personnel.

While the board has raised the topic every time they met since 2022, the ruling being the same means the official FIM statement has been identical to those issued after past meetings. This was no different for the latest one:

The Board of Directors reiterated its sympathy and solidarity with all those suffering, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After having carefully considered the situation, the Board once again confirmed the decisions made during its extraordinary meeting on 5 March 2022. One of the consequences of these decisions is that no Russian and Belarusian riders, teams and officials can participate in FIM events and activities (FIM World Championships and FIM Prize Events) until further notice. The FIM will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation, taking into account the specificity of motorcycle sport.

The ban is significantly harsher than the policy that the FIA has, which allows drivers from Russia and Belarus to compete as long as they condemn the invasion and agree to not use their national flags. The FIA’s rule is still intact, though president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has taken a softer personal stance in recent times and met with Russian officials.

Whether those from Russia and Belarus could participate in international sports has been a contentious issue since the invasion began. For the Winter Olympics that formally began on Friday, 13 athletes were permitted to take part as the “Individual Neutral Athletes”.

Featured image credit: Silk Way Rally