Kuala lumpur: The International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) has allowed all Russian fighters to participate in international tournaments under their national flag and to the tune of the country's anthem, Russian Sports Minister and President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Mikhail Degtyarev said on Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, "Starting in June, the Russian national team will perform in full at the world championship in Malaysia [2026 IFMA World Championships]," Degtyarev wrote on his Telegram channel. "The team is made up of the country's strongest athletes, including multiple World Champions Konstantin Shakhtarin, Askhab Akhmedov and Ovsep Aslanyan."

The 2026 IFMA World Championships are scheduled to be held from June 16-26 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This decision marks a significant change in the international sports landscape, aligning with recent lifts of restrictions on Russian athletes by other international governing bodies, including judo, sambo, taekwondo, kickboxing, boxing, MMA, and wrestling.

In December 2025, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board issued recommendations that allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in international federations' youth disciplines under their national flags and anthems. This recommendation was applicable to both individual and team sports, prompting numerous international sports federations to follow suit.