The FIAS looks set to follow the IOC's lead by forming a refugee team ©Getty Images

The International Sambo Federation (FIAS) is looking into setting up a national refugee team to compete at its major events.

FIAS vice-president Sergey Eliseev presented on the topic during the latest meeting of the governing body's Executive Committee.

"The presence of an official refugee status should be the only criterion for sambists wishing to take part in the competition," Eliseev said.

The FIAS Technical Commission is dealing with admitting these athletes into sambo events, the organisation added.

Sambo World Cups are set to be held on four continents next year ©FIAS
Sambo World Cups are set to be held on four continents next year ©FIAS

It sees the FIAS follow in the footsteps of the International Olympic Committee, whose refugee team made its debut at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and competed at Tokyo 2020.

The FIAS Executive Committee also confirmed World Cups would be held on four continents - Europe, Asia, Africa and Pan America - in 2022.

Combat sambo has been added to the World Youth and Junior Championships from next year, while women's sport sambo will feature at the World Masters Championships for the first time in 2022.

"Today we must focus on increasing the number of clubs involved in sambo in the world and the number of clubs, and this system is an effective tool on this path," said FIAS President Vasily Shestakov.