The decision marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape ahead of the qualification pathway for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Under the new rules, Russian athletes competing as neutral athletes will appear under the designation “AIN (A)”, while Belarusian athletes will compete as “AIN (B)”. Although these designations are strictly administrative and do not represent national recognition, the sporting impact is substantial.
Most importantly, ranking points earned by these athletes will now count toward the official Olympic Qualification Rankings in Canoe Sprint.
Russian athletes have historically been one of the strongest nations in international canoe sprint, consistently producing medal contenders across kayak and canoe disciplines. Belarusian have also maintained a strong presence, particularly in women’s kayak events and sprint canoe.
The addendum also clarifies that any points earned under the AIN designation will remain valid even if athletes are later reinstated under the authority or representation of a National Federation.
At the same time, the ICF reaffirmed that the inclusion of AIN athletes does not represent recognition or reinstatement of the national team or national representation. All participation remains subject to the existing neutrality conditions introduced in 2023.
The new regulation entered into force immediately following approval by the ICF Board of Directors and applies to all future competitions awarding ranking points.
Meanwhile in 2026, Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) holders of Russian and Belarusian passports will be authorized by local OCs to participate in the following European championships.
-2026 Paddle Europe Sprint, Paracanoe and Masters Championships 10-14 June Montemor-o-Velho,POR
-2026 Paddle Europe Marathon Championships 22-28 June Pitesti,ROU
-2026 Paddle Europe Junior and U23 Sprint Championships 23-26 July Szeged,HUN
-2026 Paddle Europe Junior & U23 Slalom Championships 6-9 August Epinal,FRA
-2026 Paddle Europe Junior & U23 Wildwater Championships 12-15 August Grandtully,Scotland, GBR
-2026 Paddle Europe Ocean Racing Championships 24-30 August Brest,FRA
-2026 Paddle Europe Stand UP Paddling Championships 18-20 September Agios Nikolaos,GRE
-2026 Paddle Europe Slalom Championships 24-27 September Ivrea,ITA
15.5.2026
