The World Aquatics bureau recently reaffirmed its stance regarding the All-Russian Swimming Federation (VFTU) and the broader participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international events. At a formal session, the federation’s leaders conveyed that World Aquatics chose not to dismiss the VFTU despite persistent requests from Ukraine. The decision was described as grounded in a procedural assessment and international sport governance norms, with no immediate move to suspend or disqualify the federation.
In a discussion captured by Match TV, Vladimir Salnikov, who serves as president of the VFTU, explained that the Ukrainian delegation had urged the body to remove both the All-Russian Swimming Federation and the Belarusian Federation from World Aquatics channels. Salnikov noted that the proposal lacked sufficient justification and did not meet the criteria typically required for such drastic action, emphasizing that the arguments presented did not demonstrate an urgent breach of federation rules or a direct threat to competition integrity.
The decision was formed after a contemporaneous meeting of World Aquatics leadership conducted online from Fukuoka, Japan. Officials weighed the implications for athletes, national programs, and the broader sanctions framework that governs international sport. The consensus reflected a preference for maintaining active dialogue and ensuring that any sanctions align with established governance processes and proportional responses to geopolitical tensions.
Historical context anchors parts of the discussion. In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee issued guidance encouraging national bodies to refrain from admitting athletes under sponsorship or flag from Russia and Belarus in certain events. The aim was to preserve competitive fairness while signaling a stance on the ongoing conflict. This framing guided subsequent deliberations within World Aquatics and other international federations, encouraging careful consideration of neutral status options for athletes who are not actively supporting hostilities.
During a later IOC executive committee session, there was a recommendation that Russian athletes could compete under a neutral status, provided their involvement did not actively endorse or participate in hostilities. This directive influenced the broader sport governance conversation, offering a template for balancing athletic participation with geopolitical realities. World Aquatics and its counterparts have repeatedly stressed that neutrality provisions must be clearly defined, consistently applied, and regularly reviewed to protect the integrity of competition while supporting athletes who strive to compete under neutral conditions.
From the Russian Federation’s perspective, officials underlined that the exclusion of athletes from international events did not generate friction within the sports community or among national sports authorities. The dialogue emphasized that sanctions, when used, should be precise, targeted, and guided by fair play principles. The ongoing discussions illustrate how international federations navigate complex scenarios where political events intersect with sport, aiming to preserve competitive opportunities for athletes and maintain the credibility of global events.