The presence of athletes from the two countries has resulted in the Ukrainian team boycotting the event in Qatari capital Doha in protest of the IJF’s ruling on April 29.

Two Belarusian and 17 Russian judoka have been permitted to feature as individual neutral athletes after background checks were carried out to ensure no public support of the war in Ukraine and that they were employed by the Federal Training Sport Center.

Marinescu revealed that a 260-page document of the findings of the independent investigation was presented to the Executive Committee before members issued a “unanimous vote” in favour of their return.  

Eight Russians including "support staff, coaches and delegation heads" were denied participation after the report found "some affiliation with the leadership of the country", according to the Hungarian official who has been recently added to the IJF Executive Committee.

"The findings concluded that with the athletes there was no evidence to be found of any pro war propaganda on any of their social media and we have received working certificates of employment showing that from 2020 until recently that all the people who are athletes are employed by the Federal Training Center," said Marinescu.

Marinescu said that a "reputable international company" had conducted the investigation but refused to reveal its name due to the signing of a non-disclosure agreement.

"What I can tell you is that it is in the top three world companies for such a check, and it was hired by us and financed by us so there is no manipulation," said Marinescu.

"The payment for the service was completed by us, completely independent."

Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Guttsait issued a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), accusing the IJF of an "unprecedented neglect of the Olympic Charter" by allegedly allowing military personnel to compete at the World Championships.

The letter included a list of athletes who were alleged to have contracts with the Russian armed forces or national security bodies.

"We have the report and certificates of all [those] who were claimed as being members of the army,” said Marinescu.

"All of the athletes are working in the Federal Training Center team.

"I cannot respond to a letter between a Government entity that chose to make a position according to whatever agenda.

"I can tell you as a sport that our job is only to unite people and according to the United Nations we cannot discriminate against people from their place of birth, origin, religion or any other aspect.

"We are judo, and we are here to unite people and we are one judo family."

The decision by the IJF came after the IOC ruled in late March that Russian and Belarusian competitors should be allowed to return to the global sporting stage as neutrals provided they do not support the war in Ukraine and are not affiliated to the military.

"From the moment the recommendations from the IOC came out, we immediately took action due to the proximity of the World Championships," added Marinescu.

"Let’s not forget that we are getting closer to the Olympic Games.

"The qualification has begun for Paris [2024].

"This is a very important point.

"It’s unfair that many athletes have been unable to qualify.

"Qualification began in Mongolia last year.

"I regret that the Ukrainian athletes will not be able to participate.

"We are very happy for them to participate and with the values of sport I am sure that sport and judo can transcend any type of politics.

"Many of the athletes that are competing here have known each other their whole life.

"They were together competing many years before this conflict.

"I want to emphasise that we are against the war and discrimination.

"This is sport and there is no place here for politics."