World Aquatics Bureau Sets Up Task Force To Explore Return To International Competition Of Russian And Belarusian Athletes; LEN Position Remains Unchanged
The World Aquatics Bureau has approved a task force to explore a potential pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be invited to compete at future international aquatics events as individual neutral athletes.
It follows the issuing of recommendations by the International Olympic Committee last week to pave the way for a return for athletes from those countries although a decision on participation at Paris 2024 will be made at a later date.
European governing body LEN‘s position remains unchanged with Russian and Belarusian athletes unable to compete at LEN events until further notice.
Swimming World has learned there are no plans for a task force or specific discussion until the next Bureau meeting which is some time hence.
Athletes were banned by World Aquatics – then FINA – in March 2022 from competing at the World Championships in Budapest following the invasion of Ukraine after which the Russian Swimming Federation withdrew its swimmers from all FINA competitions for the rest of the year.
That followed European body LEN’s announcement that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not be allowed to compete at their events “until further notice”.
According to World Aquatics, the task force – which is “made up of athletes and representatives from across the aquatics community and chaired by Maureen Croes, the President of Panam Aquatics” – will start work immediately and report back at the next Bureau meeting in July 2023 on the brink of the World Championships in Fukuoka.
The current ban on Russian and Belarusian athlete stays in place for now with World Aquatics stating: “the World Aquatics Bureau’s decision to not invite athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus to World Aquatics events remains in effect today.”
World Aquatics issued a statement saying:
“The World Aquatics Bureau met today and gave its support to the statement made by the IOC Executive Board on 28 March 2023 regarding the potential future participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in international competitions.
“This statement followed the request from the majority of the Olympic movement stakeholders to the IOC to explore the potential return of athletes from Russia and Belarus to international sports events, based on the principles of the Olympic Charter.
“The World Aquatics Bureau approved the establishment of a task force to explore a potential pathway for athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport to participate in future international aquatics events as individual neutral athletes.
“The task force, made up of athletes and representatives from across the aquatics community and chaired by Maureen Croes, the President of Panam Aquatics, will begin work immediately on developing a recommendation to the World Aquatics Bureau.
“The World Aquatics Bureau notes that the task force will need to take time to come to its conclusions, and will report back at the next Bureau meeting in July 2023.”
It reaffirmed its commitment to Ukrainian athletes, saying:
“World Aquatics reaffirms its steadfast commitment and concern for Ukraine, notably on Ukrainian aquatics athletes impacted by the invasion of their country. Ukrainian aquatics athletes continue to receive support from World Aquatics and its partners, notably LEN and the Ukraine Swimming, Diving and Artistic Swimming Federations, for training and competition.
“World Aquatics will continue to prioritise measures aimed at supporting the Ukrainian aquatics community, alongside national swimming federations, National Olympic Committees, the International Olympic Committee and LEN.”