(Lausanne) Russian leaders have expressed their dissatisfaction with the plan which would allow some of their athletes to participate in international competitions ahead of the Paris Olympic Games, believing that the proposed relaxations are not sufficient.
Russian athletes may have to wait another five months before being able to take part in major competitions.
World Aquatics has banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from its competitions since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, but on Monday announced a plan that will allow some of them to get the status of “neutral athlete” after a strict screening procedure.
This decision, however, comes with conditions. World Aquatics has ruled that an athlete cannot display any national symbols, must wear a white uniform, and clarified that Russia and Belarus can only enter one “neutral” athlete per competition. As a result, these two countries will not be able to participate in the relays, synchronized diving or even the water polo tournament. In addition, they will not be able to send athletes for the artistic swimming duo and team events – Russia won its share of gold medals there during the last Olympic Games.
“There is no progress in this regard,” the Russian Swimming Federation said on Tuesday. The president of the umbrella organization for artistic swimming in Russia, three-time Olympic gold medalist Olga Brusnikina, told Match TV that a “significant” blow has been dealt to Russia’s hopes of participate in these competitions.
World Aquatics has highlighted that the World Aquatic Championships, to be held in February 2024, will likely be the first major competition to host “neutral” athletes. These delays are due, among other things, to the procedures necessary to assess whether an athlete has publicly supported the war in Ukraine, or if he has links with the Russian or Belarusian army or security forces.
World Aquatics rules do not apply to the Paris Olympics, which is overseen by the International Olympic Committee. The IOC is in favor of the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under a neutral banner, which Ukraine strongly criticizes.
World Aquatics is one of the most influential sports federations at the Olympic Games. Only athletics has more athletes at the Olympics. World Athletics still excludes Russian and Belarusian athletes from its competitions.