The International Olympic Committee lifted the suspension of Russian symbols on July 7. On Wednesday, the Russian national anthem was heard again at a World Championship thanks to fencer Pavel Graudyn’s gold medal in the fencing competition, the first since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifted its ban on Russian symbols. RELATED:Russians to Compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics GamesSince the state-sponsored doping allegations that led to Russia’s exclusion from the 2018 Pyeongchang, the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, and the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games, Russian athletes had competed under the banner of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) or as neutrals. 🇷🇺 The Russian flag flies high once again, and the anthem echoes across the roof of the world. Volleyball, modern pentathlon, and handball followed suit, while other disciplines, such as climbing and canoeing, still maintain Russian neutrality.