World Aquatics, the governing body of swimming, has recently made adjustments to its rules regarding the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in international competitions. Athletes from these countries who have been competing as neutrals in individual events during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine are now permitted to join team events such as swim relays, artistic swimming, and synchronized diving.
Prior to the Paris Olympics, various sports organizations, including aquatics, followed guidance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and carefully evaluated individual athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports to determine their eligibility to compete. The IOC emphasized that a blanket ban on these athletes would constitute discrimination, although World Athletics, governing body for track and field, opted for a different approach by imposing a complete ban.
