1st April 2023 – (London) The All England Club announced on Friday that Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to compete at the Wimbledon Championships this summer as “neutral” athletes. The decision comes after the tournament declined entries from these players in 2022, resulting in the ATP and WTA stripping ranking points for last year’s event. The All England Club stated that the current intention is to accept entries from these players subject to them complying with appropriate conditions.
The All England Club’s decision means that Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to compete in this year’s Wimbledon Championships, but only as “neutral” athletes. This means that they will not represent their countries and will compete without any national symbols or anthems. Players who receive funding from the Russian or Belarusian states or have sponsorship from companies controlled by the states will not be allowed to participate in the competition.
The All England Club’s decision is in line with the regulations of other Grand Slam tournaments of tennis, which also allow players from Russia and Belarus to compete as “neutral” athletes. The decision is aimed at ensuring the safety and fairness of the competition while taking into account the current political climate.
According to Ian Hewitt, Chairman of the All England Club, the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete as “neutral” athletes and comply with appropriate conditions is the most appropriate arrangement for this year’s Wimbledon Championships. The All England Club believes that the alignment between the Grand Slams is increasingly important in the current tennis environment.
The decision is a departure from last year’s decision, which declined entries from Russian and Belarusian players. This resulted in a strong and disappointing reaction from some governing bodies in tennis, with consequences that could be damaging to the interests of players, fans, The Championships, and British tennis.
The All England Club has also stated that if circumstances change materially between now and the commencement of The Championships, they will consider and respond accordingly. The decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete as “neutral” athletes is subject to compliance with appropriate conditions, which could be adjusted if necessary.
The All England Club’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete as “neutral” athletes is a step towards ensuring the safety and fairness of the competition while taking into account the current political climate. The decision is also in line with the regulations of other Grand Slam tournaments of tennis, which also allow players from Russia and Belarus to compete as “neutral” athletes.