MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. World Aquatics has lifted all previously imposed sanctions against Russia and Belarus, allowing their athletes to compete again under the countries’ flags and to the tune of national anthems, the world’s governing body of swimming sports said in a statement.
"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 reads.
"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," according to World Aquatics.
"While altering the application of the Guidelines, key provisions were agreed by the World Aquatics Bureau in the interest of safe and fair competitions," the statement continued.
World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam said commenting on the announced decision: "Over the last three years, World Aquatics and the AQIU [the Aquatics Integrity Unit] have successfully helped ensure that conflict can be kept outside the sporting competition venues."
