- Following a decision of the World Aquatics Bureau, and in consultation with the Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU) and the World Aquatics Athletes’ Committee, the Guidelines for Athlete Participation in Aquatics Events During a Period of Political Conflict will no longer apply to senior athletes with Belarusian or Russian sport nationality. "VAN" (Sports Desk - 14.04.2026) :: Senior athletes with Belarusian or Russian sport nationality will be permitted to compete in World Aquatics events in the same way as their counterparts representing other sport nationalities, with their respective uniforms, flags and anthems. The World Aquatics Bureau had previously amended the Guidelines – which are implemented by the Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU) - to enable junior athletes with Belarusian or Russian sport nationality to participate on the same basis as their fellow junior athletes. “Over the last three years, World Aquatics and the AQIU have successfully helped ensure that conflict can be kept outside the sporting competition venues. We are determined to ensure that pools and open water remain places where athletes from all nations can come together in peaceful competition,” said World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam. More than 700 screenings were conducted on athletes with Belarusian or Russian sport nationality as part of the application of the Guidelines. Individuals with those sport nationalities participated as Neutral Individual Athletes since 2023, later being joined by teams. While altering the application of the Guidelines, key provisions were agreed by the World Aquatics Bureau in the interest of safe and fair competitions. Athletes with Belarusian or Russian sport nationality will only be permitted to compete once they have successfully passed at least four successive anti-doping controls carried out in partnership with the International Testing Agency (ITA) and completed background checks with the AQIU. Russia and Belarus now also resume full membership rights under Article 6 of the World Aquatics Constitution.
On Tue, Apr 14, 2026