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Russia and Belarus Return to World Aquatics With Flags and Anthems After Ban Is Eased
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
The International Federation for aquatic sports, World Aquatics, has approved the participation of adult Russian and Belarusian athletes in competitions under the same conditions as other countries, allowing them to compete using their national uniforms, flags, and anthems.
The decision was published on the organization’s official website on April 13.
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Earlier, World Aquatics had already amended its regulations to allow junior athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete on equal terms with their international colleagues.
World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam said the federation had worked over the past three years to ensure that geopolitical tensions did not spill over into sport.
“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,” he said.
As part of implementing the updated rules, more than 700 checks have been carried out on Russian and Belarusian athletes. Since 2023, they had competed as neutral individual athletes, with teams later also allowed to participate under those conditions.
The decision also restores full membership rights to Russia and Belarus in accordance with Article 6 of the World Aquatics Constitution .
At the same time, participation remains conditional. Athletes from both countries will only be allowed to compete after successfully completing at least four consecutive anti-doping tests conducted in cooperation with the International Testing Agency. They must also pass integrity checks carried out by the Aquatics Integrity Unit.
Previously, in February, the Netherlands has withdrawn from hosting the 2026 European Paralympic Swimming Championships after objecting to the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national symbols.
The decision was made by the Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB) following consultations with several government bodies, including the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, which confirmed the move.
KNZB director Arnoud Strijbis said the International Paralympic Committee required that athletes from Russia and Belarus be allowed to compete with their flags and anthems.
“We cannot comply with what they wanted to write in the contract,” Strijbis said, noting that the Netherlands would only have agreed to their participation under neutral status, without national symbols.
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
