Madness! The world of fencing rocked by scandal as FIE allows Russian military personnel to compete at World Championships

Russian athletes were admitted under a neutral flag, but among them were members of the military.

Details: The global fencing community erupted in outrage when the International Fencing Federation (FIE) published a list of neutral athletes eligible to participate in the upcoming World Championships in Tbilisi.

According to reports, 40 athletes from two countries will compete under a neutral flag. While this has become a familiar sight in recent times, the shocking revelation is that some of these competitors are active military personnel.

This includes Sofia Velikaya, who currently holds the rank of major in the Russian Armed Forces; Yana Egorian, who is a lieutenant; and Olga Nikitina, who also has a military background.

On April 18, 2025, Ukraine placed Sofia Velikaya on its sanctions list for ten years due to the fencer's support of the war in Ukraine.

Previously, the IOC strongly advised the FIE not to allow athletes from countries under sanctions for military aggression in Ukraine to participate in tournaments. However, the FIE openly disregarded these recommendations and welcomed athletes from Belarus and Russia.

The World Fencing Championships are scheduled to take place from July 22 to 26 in the Georgian city of Tbilisi. At this point, the Ukrainian national team has officially protested the FIE's decision.

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