The president of the Syrian Sports Federation, Firas Maala, explained that no Russian athletes were included in the Syrian national team submission for the Pan-Arab Games. He clarified that while three Russian competitors pursued naturalization through international sport federations in swimming, cycling, and badminton with the aim of representing Syria, those efforts were not approved, leaving the Syrian delegation with only athletes of Syrian nationality. In Maala’s view, the squad fielded for the Games contained no foreign-born competitors.
There were reports circulated through a Telegram channel and other outlets suggesting that five Russians, with names partially withheld, were announced as part of the Syrian team for the Pan-Arab Games. The formal roster, however, did not include any athletes who would compete under a non-Syrian nationality at the event, and no official confirmation of such an inclusion was issued by the federation. These developments underscore the complexities surrounding nationality rules and eligibility criteria in international multi-sport events.
Participants linked to the contest included badminton player Daria Dzhedzhula, cyclists Daria and Tatiana Malkov, swimmer Anastasia Sorokina, and track and field athlete Karina Poludkina. Alongside event preparation, there were changes reported to the birth dates listed on competition records, with certain profiles reflecting adjusted dates for two athletes to align with the event’s administrative data. Such edits are not uncommon in large championships as federations verify identity and eligibility prior to competition.
The Pan-Arab Games are scheduled to take place in Algeria, bringing together athletes from across the Arab world to compete in a broad range of sports and disciplines. The event serves as a regional platform for showcasing athletic talent and fostering sporting connections among participating nations.
Separately, a former Russian athlete indicated that he did not intend to switch allegiance to Syria for the Games, reaffirming his current national sporting status and the federation’s commitment to clear nationality rules and transparent participation procedures for all athletes involved.