Wed, October 29, 2025
World Aquatics requests reassessment of neutral athlete ban ahead of Lublin 2025
World Aquatics has called on European bodies to reconsider the ban which prevents Russian athletes from competing as neutrals at the European Aquatics Swimming Short Course Championships in Lublin, Poland which will take place from 2-7 December 2025.
For a Russian to compete as a neutral athlete, they must apply through the Aquatics Integrity Unit and meet specific eligibility criteria. They can compete in international sporting events, but without affiliation to the Russian flag, anthem, or colours. This requires them not to have actively supported the war in Ukraine or to be affiliated with the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies.
European Aquatics allows Russian and Belarusian junior athletes to compete in individual events under neutral status, though they are not allowed in team events like relays, but Russians and Belarusians still cannot compete as senior athletes under European Aquatics’ regulations.
Conversely, World Aquatics introduced neutral status for these athletes in 2023 for individual events and extended this in 2024 to include team events – minus water polo due to the possibility of “inter alia physical contact between athletes.” Though, no more than one athlete from Russia and one from Belarus is permitted per event and they must pass a vetting process.
World Aquatics’ President, Husain Al-Musallam, previously expressed, “The World Aquatics Bureau recognises the dedication, commitment, and talent of athletes, regardless of their nationality. Despite the challenges we face on the international stage, we acknowledge our responsibility to foster a competitive, fair, and inclusive environment for every competitor.”
TASS Russian News Agency reported on Russian Aquatics Federation President, Dmitry Mazepin’s, gratitude towards World Aquatics for its support. Mazepin highlighted that Russian athletes have had the opportunity to compete as neutrals in World Championships in Hungary, Singapore, and within European cups over the past year.
He expressed: “World Aquatics continues to serve as an example for other organisations, making it clear that sports should be free of politics and the principles of the Olympic Charter should be respected.”
TASS’ official statement can be found here.
