The move signals further easing of restrictions on athletes from both countries by sports governing bodies.
Published April 13, 2026
Athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete under their national flags in international swimming and water sports competitions after the sport’s governing body lifted a ban on their participation.
World Swimming announced the decision on Monday, ending restrictions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
The move signaled further easing of restrictions on athletes from both countries, who will be allowed to compete as neutrals from September 2023.
“Following the decision of the World Swimming Secretariat, in consultation with the Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU) and the World Swimming Commission, the guidelines regarding athlete participation in swimming competitions during periods of political conflict will no longer apply to senior athletes with Belarusian or Russian sporting nationality,” World Swimming said in a statement.
“Senior athletes with Belarusian or Russian sporting nationality will be allowed to compete at world swimming events wearing their respective uniforms, flags and national anthems, as well as athletes representing other sporting nationalities.”
Athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus, which was used as a staging area for the Ukraine attack, will only be allowed to compete if they pass anti-doping controls at least four times in a row, World Aquatics said.
“We are determined to ensure that our pools and open waters remain places where athletes from all countries can peacefully come together to compete,” World Aquatics president Hussain Al Musallam said in a statement.
World Aquatics follows the example of the International Paralympic Committee in allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, to be held in Milan and Cortina, Italy, in February.
The decision comes after Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Heraskevich was disqualified from the Winter Olympic Games for wearing a helmet commemorating athletes killed in war.
The next World Aquatics Championships will be held in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, in 2027.
