World Aquatics has lifted participation restrictions on athletes from Russia and Belarus, allowing them to compete in international competitions under their national flags, an official statement said on Monday.
The governing body said its Bureau decided, in consultation with the Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU) and the World Aquatics Athletes’ Committee, that previous “Guidelines for Athlete Participation in Aquatics Events During a Period of Political Conflict” will no longer apply to senior athletes from both countries.
“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 statement said.
World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam said the organization aims to keep political tensions outside sporting arenas, adding that aquatics events should remain a space for “peaceful competition” among all nations.
The federation said more than 700 screenings had been conducted on Russian and Belarusian athletes since 2023, when they were allowed to compete only as neutral athletes under strict conditions.
Teams from both countries were later also permitted to participate under neutral designation.
Under the revised policy, Russian and Belarusian athletes will still be required to pass at least four consecutive anti-doping tests conducted with the International Testing Agency (ITA) and complete background checks by the AQIU before being eligible to compete.
Russia and Belarus have also had their full membership rights restored under Article 6 of the World Aquatics Constitution, the federation added.
