The International Olympic Committee (IOC) released a list of Russian and Belarussian athletes eligible to compete in the Paris Games and many top wrestlers are not on it.

Russia and Belarus have been banned from the Olympics since soon after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) are allowed to compete in individual sports if they qualify and are ruled eligible to compete by the Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel (AINERP).

For more background on the IOC's eligibility policy regarding Russia and Belarus, click here. 

The Russian and Belarusian athletes ruled eligible as of June 15, 2024, are as follows.

Russia

Men's Freestyle 57kg: Nachin Mongush

Men's Freestyle 65kg: Shamil Mamedov

Men's Freestyle 86kg: Arslan Bagaev

Men's Freestyle 125kg: Abdulla Kurbanov

Greco-Roman 87kg: Alan Ostaev

Greco-Roman 97kg: Magomed Murtazaliev

Women's Freestyle 53kg: Natalya Malysheva

Women's Freestyle 57kg: Veronika Chumikova

Women's Freestyle 62kg: Alina Kasabieva

Women's Freestyle 68kg: Elizaveta Petliakova

Belarus

Men's Freestyle 74kg: Yahor Akulich

Men's Freestyle 97kg: Uladzislau Kazlou

Greco-Roman 97kg: Abubakar Khaslakhanau

Greco-Roman 130kg: Dzmitri Zarubski

Women's Freestyle 53kg: Viyaleta Rebikava

Women's Freestyle 62kg: Krystsina Sazykina

You might notice not only the absence of big names like Uguev, Sidakov and Sadulaev but also the absence of entire weight classes that were previously qualified by Russian or Belarussian athletes. 

The IOC included this clarification regarding Olympic bids earned by Russia or Belarus that remain empty due to a lack of eligible athletes. 

In some sports, the number of eligible athletes may be lower than the number of earned quota places. In such cases, these quota places will be reallocated to athletes from other NOCs in accordance with the qualification system of the respective IF.

It would appear that there could be open spots at the following weights.

Men's Freestyle: 57, 74, 97, 125

Greco-Roman: 60, 77, 87, 130

Women's Freestyle: 50, 57

This would suggest that Kamal Bey has a shot at competing in Paris, as he would be the next person in line to qualify due to finishing in fourth place at the last chance World Olympic Qualifier, and because there may be an open spot in the bracket with Russia not having an eligible athlete at 77kg. 

Below is a list of athletes who had qualified for the Olympics and were the presumed starters. Athletes that are not eligible at this moment are underlined. Weights that were qualified but have no eligible athletes are also underlined. 

Russia

Men's Freestyle 57kg: Zaur Uguev

Men's Freestyle 65kg: Shamil Mamedov

Men's Freestyle 74kg: Zaurbek Sidakov

Men's Freestyle 86kg: Artur Naifonov

Men's Freestyle 97kg: Abdulrashid Sadulaev

Men's Freestyle 125kg: Abdulla Kurbanov

Greco-Roman 60kg: Sadyk Lalaev

Greco-Roman 77kg: Sergey Kutuzov

Greco-Roman 87kg: Milad Alirzaev

Greco-Roman 97kg: Artur Sargisian

Greco-Roman 130kg: Sergey Semenov

Women's Freestyle 50kg: Nadezhda Sokolova

Women's Freestyle 53kg: Natalya Malysheva

Women's Freestyle 57kg: Olga Khoroshavtseva

Women's Freestyle 62kg: Alina Kasabieva

Women's Freestyle 68kg: Olga Khoroshavtseva

Belarus

Men's Freestyle 57kg: Aryan Tsiutryn

Men's Freestyle 74kg: Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau

Men's Freestyle 97kg: Aliaksandr Hushtyn

Men's Freestyle 125kg: Dzianis Khramiankou

Greco-Roman 87kg: Kiryl Maskevich

Greco-Roman 97kg: Abubakar Khaslakhanau

Greco-Roman 130kg: Dzmitri Zarubski

Women's Freestyle 53kg: Viyaleta Rebikava

Women's Freestyle 57kg: Iryna Kurachkina

Women's Freestyle 62kg: Krystsina Sazykina

The process for how eligible substitutes were selected was not described in the IOC press release, nor was it specified if it would be possible for Russia or Belarus to submit new candidates for weight classes that they qualified for Paris but have no eligible athletes listed. 

It should also be noted that the press release from the IOC does not label any athletes as ineligible, they only provide a list of athletes who are eligible. This could potentially leave the door open for athletes not listed to be ruled eligible at a later date. 

However, there is nothing to indicate that the IOC plans on doing this, and the start of the Olympics is less than two months away. 

Russian Wrestling Federation President Mikhail Mamiashvili had no comment on the situation and stated that they are waiting for more clarification from the IOC.