World Swimming has relaxed rules for approved Russians competing in relays and some team events

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — World Aquatics Swimming’s governing body has relaxed rules that now allow approved athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in team events at international competitions.

The World Aquatics Association confirmed on Thursday that its ruling bureau has updated competition rules that will allow athletes who competed in individual events as neutrals during the invasion of Ukraine to join teams and compete in swimming relays, artistic swimming and synchronized diving. .

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, aquatics and other sports organizations have followed guidance from the International Olympic Committee and screened individual athletes with passports from Russia and Belarus to return to competition. The IOC suggested that a blanket ban would be discriminatory, although World Athletics imposed one.

The rules of neutrality included no public support for the invasion of Ukraine and no ties to military or state security agencies.

Four swimmers – one from Russia and three from Belarus – competed in Paris as neutrals, not wearing the team’s national colors, flag or anthem. They didn’t win a single medal.

The current list of eligible neutral aquatics athletes includes seven swimmers from Russia and seven from Belarus, three divers from Russia and three artistic swimmers from Belarus.

The IOC also advised the continuation of the suspension of Russia and Belarus from team sports. These countries are still prohibited from participating in international water polo, “which inherently involves… physical contact between athletes,” World Aquatics said in its guidelines.

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