European Aquatics Wants Reintegration Of Russian & Belarusian Athletes Delayed Until After European Championships
European Aquatics has requested a delay until 1 September 2026 in implementing World Aquatics’ bylaw allowing the full participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes.
World Aquatics decreed last month that athletes from those countries could compete without restriction and with their respective uniforms, flags and anthems.
However, European Aquatics has released a statement saying: “Following a meeting of the Bureau on 30 April 2026, it was agreed to request a delay of implementation of the recently approved AQUA bylaw concerning the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in international aquatic competitions.
“The request asks that the bylaw, which permits the return of these athletes to full participation across all aquatic disciplines, not be enacted by European Aquatics until 1 September 2026.
“Until that date, athletes and teams from Russia and Belarus who have been approved under existing eligibility criteria will remain able to compete in European Aquatics competitions exclusively under the status of Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN).”
In February, the continental governing body ruled that athletes holding Russian and Belarusian passports were eligible to compete at the European Championships in Paris this summer as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) providing they meet strict criteria. This is set to be their first return to continental waters since the short-course Europeans in November 2021. The invasion of Ukraine followed in February 2022 after which Russia and Belarus were excluded from international competition.
They also announced that athletes could compete in youth and junior competitions without any restrictions with Budapest hosting the European Junior Diving Championships in June and Munich the European Junior Championships. the following month.
However, World Aquatics’ decree granted full reinstatement with the European Aquatics Championships – which run from 31 July to 16 August in the French capital – the first potential high-profile flashpoint.
Mykhailo Romanchuk: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Ukraine’s Youth and Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi condemned World Aquatics’ decision, saying: “Sport should unite people around fair rules and respect for life. The return of the flag of a country that disregards these rules and systematically destroys them is an alarming signal for the entire sporting community.”
Bidnyi added: “Today, our athletes train under attacks, and against this backdrop, any talk of ‘neutrality’ or the return of the aggressor’s symbols appears shameful and detached from reality. We call on the international community not to become complicit in legitimising aggression through the sporting achievements of athletes who are, in effect, part of Russia’s propaganda machine.”
The world governing body’s action prompted opposition across Europe. Otylia Jedrzejczak – head of the Polish Swimming Federation – said Rzeszow, Poland, would not stage the 2027 European Diving Championships with Russian participation should the war still be ongoing.
Jedrzejczak received support from Norwegian Swimming Federation president Cato Bratbaak, who told Reuters that it is not interested in hosting any World Aquatics events at which Russians and Belarussians compete.
The Nordic Swimming Federation – comprising Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden – also announced they will not host competitions under World Aquatics auspices while the reintegration policy stands.
- As of 10 April 2026, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has verified at least 15,578 civilians killed and 43,352 injured in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began on 24 February 2022
