Flag, anthem restrictions dropped for Russian, Belarusian swimmers

Author: Al Jazeera StaffPublished on: April 13, 2026Country: Russia
Sports
Flag, anthem restrictions dropped for Russian, Belarusian swimmers

Russian and Belarusian athletes will now be allowed to compete under their national flags at international swimming and aquatic sports events, following a decision by World Aquatics. This lifting of restrictions comes after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Athletes must pass at least four consecutive anti-doping controls before participating. World Aquatics President Husain al-Musallam stated that the organization aims to ensure competitions remain peaceful gatherings for all athletes.

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