Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova will not race in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The decision comes after Efimova failed to meet the Olympic standard during the Bahamas championship, clocking 2 minutes and 29 seconds for the distance.
Earlier in 2022, the International Olympic Committee tightened its stance by urging international federations to bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing. By the end of 2023, the IOC shifted course, permitting Russians and Belarusians to participate as neutral athletes, provided they meet a set of criteria and achieve qualification.
In response to ongoing travel and eligibility constraints, Russia explored the Friendship Games format as an alternative pathway. The first Friendship Games were announced to take place in Moscow and Yekaterinburg from 15 to 29 September 2024. The project is led by the International Friendship Association. On 7 June, Alexey Sorokin, the general director of the Friendship Games organizing committee, confirmed that the event would be postponed.
In related security measures, it was reported that US military personnel would maintain order during the Paris Games (Defense updates, 2024).