Russia have been disqualified from the mixed 4×50 freestyle relay in which they won joint silver with Italy at the European Short-Course Championships in Kazan, Italy.
The quartet of Vlad Morozov, Kliment Kolesnikov, Arina Surkova and Maria Kameneva had initially finished second on Saturday evening, touching in 1:29.40 to share silver with Italy behind the Netherlands.
However, governing body LEN upheld an appeal by Poland that Russia had violated the rules by not swimming in the order determined on the start list.
As a result, Poland – who initially finished 0.06 off the podium in fourth – were elevated to bronze although there will be no new medal ceremony but instead a handover on the pool deck.
The statement read:
LEN Statement on disqualification
“After receiving a protest from Team Poland, the Referee reviewed the results of the final of the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay, contested on Day 5 at the LEN European Short-Course Swimming Championships in Kazan.
“It was confirmed that the Russian relay on lane 4 did not swim in the order determined on the start list, infringing the rules for relay events. As a consequence, Russia is disqualified from the tied second place of the event.
According to the new rankings, Poland (Pawel Juraszek, Jakub Majerski, Alicja Tchorz and Katarzya Wasick) received the bronze medal.”
There were just three heats on the final morning at the Aquatics Palace.
European long-course champion Ilya Borodin was comfortably the fastest through in 4:04.91 ahead of fellow Russian Maxim Stupin (4:07.00) and Alberto Razzetti (4:08.00).
Anastasia Kirpichnikova – who already has the 800 and 1500 crowns – heads the 400 free field in 4:00.71 ahead of Anna Egorova (4:02.42) and Simona Quadarella (4:03.67).
Russia lead the way in the mixed 4×50 medley relay ahead of the Netherlands and Belarus.