---
title: "WBC Maintains Sanctions Against Russia and Belarus at Acapulco Congress and Awards Its President with Ukrainian Order"
description: "At the 64th WBC Congress in Acapulco, the continuation of sanctions against Russia and Belarus was confirmed. Organization President Mauricio Sulaimán was awarded the Ukrainian Order of Merit, 3rd Class."
date: 2026-11-13T16:40:56.955Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/wbc-maintains-sanctions-russia-belarus-acapulco
tags: [wbc, boxing, sanctions, russia, belarus, ukraine, mauricio-sulaiman, klitschko]
author: "Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# WBC Maintains Sanctions Against Russia and Belarus at Acapulco Congress and Awards Its President with Ukrainian Order

![Green WBC championship belt with a gold center medallion and portraits of legendary boxers](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/13/wbc-sohranila-sanktsii-protiv-rossii-i-belarusi-na-kongresse-v-akapulko/wbc-sohranila-sanktsii-protiv-rossii-i-belarusi-na-kongresse-v-akapulko-1.webp)

## Key Points

- WBC maintains sanctions against Russia and Belarus at the Acapulco congress
- The organization continues to exclude boxers from these countries from rankings and does not sanction fights on their territory
- WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán was awarded the Ukrainian Order of Merit, 3rd Class
- The Ukrainian side noted the contribution of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko to preserving the restrictions

The World Boxing Council (WBC) has officially reaffirmed its stance regarding boxers from Russia and Belarus. The decision was made and announced at the organization's annual World Congress, held in Acapulco, Mexico. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing a Facebook post by Alina Shaternikova, Vice President of the National Professional Boxing League of Ukraine. According to her, the WBC is maintaining sanctions against the aggressor state and the accomplice state, and the Ukrainian team that worked on preserving the restrictions received a special expression of gratitude.

### Decision of the Acapulco Congress

As Alina Shaternikova stated, the World Boxing Council maintains sanctions against the aggressor country and the other accomplice country. The official emphasized that the decision was adopted and announced at the annual world congress taking place in Acapulco at the time of her statement. Thus, the organization has not changed its course despite ongoing discussions surrounding the potential return of representatives from aggressor countries to international sports.

### Context of Previously Imposed Restrictions

The restrictions have been in effect since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At that time, the WBC decided to exclude Russian and Belarusian boxers from its rankings and also stopped sanctioning professional bouts in both territories. The congress in Mexico confirmed that this line remains unchanged: the organization does not resume sanctioning fights in the specified areas and does not return athletes to the ranking systems.

### Contribution of Ukrainian Boxers to Preserving Sanctions

Separately, the Vice President of the National Professional Boxing League of Ukraine expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian team that worked on preserving the restrictions. In her post, Shaternikova specifically noted the contribution of legendary Ukrainian boxers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, whose stance, she said, was significant in maintaining the sanctions. This indicates that pressure on the organization from the Ukrainian boxing community continued throughout the entire period the restrictions were in place.

### Award for the WBC President

The congress in Mexico became the occasion for a special event for the organization's leadership. On November 12, WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán was presented with the Ukrainian Order of Merit, 3rd Class. The respective award was conferred upon him in September by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the presentation ceremony took place directly during the 64th World Boxing Council Congress in Acapulco. Thus, the top leadership of WBC publicly reaffirmed its affiliation with the Ukrainian side at the time the sanctions were extended.

### WBC's Position Amid International Discussions

The congress decision is significant in the context of ongoing debates regarding the admission of athletes from aggressor countries to international competitions. As follows from the statement, the WBC is currently maintaining its previous position and is not softening the restrictions. For Russian and Belarusian professional boxing, this means continued isolation from the organization's sanctioning and no access to its rankings until the council's position is reviewed at the next decision-making level.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [WBC вынесла окончательный вердикт по поводу россиян на конгрессе в Мексике](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/boxing/wbc-vinesla-ostatochniy-verdikt-shchodo-rosiyan-1794583284.html) - Primary source: Alina Shaternikova's report on the WBC sanctions remaining in place at the Acapulco congress, gratitude to the Ukrainian team and the contribution of the Klitschkos, as well as the presentation of the order to WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán on November 12.

## FAQ

### What sanctions does the WBC maintain against Russia and Belarus?

The WBC maintains sanctions against the aggressor country and the accomplice country: Russian and Belarusian boxers are excluded from the organization's rankings, and the WBC has ceased sanctioning professional bouts in both territories.

### Where and when was the decision to maintain sanctions made?

The decision was made and announced at the annual WBC World Congress (the 64th Congress), which is taking place in Acapulco, Mexico.

### Who received an award at the congress, and what was it?

On November 12, WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán was presented with the Ukrainian Order of Merit, 3rd Class, which was conferred upon him in September by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

### Has the WBC changed its position on admitting boxers from Russia and Belarus?

No. Despite discussions surrounding the return of representatives from aggressor countries to international sports, the WBC is currently maintaining its previous position and is not softening the restrictions.