European Request for Delay to Full Reintegration of Russian & Belarusian Athletes Accepted by World Aquatics
Russians and Belarusians must apply to compete as Neutral Individual Athletes (AIN) at the European Championships in Paris after the continental governing body’s request to delay full reintegration was accepted by World Aquatics.
The world governing body decreed in April that athletes from those countries could compete without restriction and with their respective uniforms, flags and anthems.
However, European Aquatics requested the implementation of the bylaw be pushed back to 1 September 2026 with the Paris showcase running from 31 July to 10 August.
A spokesman for the continental governing body confirmed to Swimming World the request was successful.
In February, European Aquatics confirmed that athletes holding Russian and Belarusian passports were eligible to compete in the French capital as Individual Neutral Athletes providing they meet strict criteria which now remains the case this summer.
Paris 2026 will mark the appearance of Russian and Belarusian swimmers in continental waters for the first time since the short-course Europeans in Kazan, Russia, in November 2021.
The invasion of Ukraine followed in February 2022 after which Russia and Belarus were excluded from international competition.
