Swimming units strict guidelines round return of Russian, Belarusian athletes to compete at Paris 2024 Olympic Video games

Particular person Russian swimmers will probably be allowed to compete in worldwide occasions, together with the Paris Olympics, in the event that they meet a set of “strict standards” that embrace not speaking to the media, the game’s governing physique mentioned on Monday.

The World Aquatics governing physique revealed its standards on Monday for Russian and Belarusian athletes, coaches and officers to return to competitors as neutrals after being banned due to their nations’ struggle in Ukraine.

The factors comply with the Worldwide Olympic Committee’s tips that solely particular person athletes from Russia and Belarus — no groups — may be allowed to compete in Paris, and that they need to not have proven any public help for the struggle.

World Aquatics mentioned just one Russian and Belarusian athlete will probably be allowed to enter in every swimming and diving occasion.

They can’t participate in any relays, creative swimming, synchronised diving, or water polo.

Russian swimmers received 5 swimming medals on the Tokyo Video games: two golds, two silvers and a bronze — together with one silver within the males’s 4x200m freestyle relay.

Russian athletes additionally claimed gold within the duet and crew creative swimming competitions, a bronze within the synchronised 10-metre platform diving competitors and got here fourth within the girls’s water polo competitors.

World Aquatics has appointed a panel to vet athletes, coaches and officers to ensure they haven’t proven any help for the struggle — resembling statements, social media posts or participating in pro-war demonstrations — for the reason that invasion began in February 2022.

That might bar swimmer Evgeny Rylov, a two-time gold medallist on the Tokyo Olympics, who was suspended final yr for sporting a “Z” image at a pro-war rally in Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

World Aquatics mentioned the principles took impact on Monday although it’s unclear how lengthy vetting will take after athletes apply for impartial standing.

Particular person athletes nonetheless need to qualify for the Olympics with a purpose to compete in Paris subsequent summer season. Fundamental occasions on the swim calendar earlier than then embrace three World Cup meets in October in Berlin, Athens and Budapest and the 2024 aquatics world championships subsequent February in Doha, Qatar.

Russian and Belarusian flags and anthems won’t be allowed and accredited athletes and help employees should put on all-white uniforms and gear, World Aquatics mentioned.

“They may even not be allowed to present any interviews to media throughout such competitions,” the world swim physique mentioned, additionally barring athletes from information conferences and post-race blended zones the place journalists can ask questions.