Shaoxing (China), May 2 -- Russian climbers returned to top-level international competition for the first time in five years, as they competed as neutral athletes at the opening stop of the 2026 World Climbing Series, formerly known as the IFSC World Cup.
Four Russian athletes took part in the boulder qualification round under neutral status, marking their first appearance at a major international event since 2021.
Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the sport's governing body - then known as the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) - suspended the national federations of Russia and Belarus and barred their athletes from all international competitions.
The ban was lifted earlier this year after the...