The International Swimming Federation (FINA) finally agreed with the decision of the majority of sports to exclude Russians and Belarusians from all international competition. The FINA office took into account a “independent risk assessment” to ban swimmers and officials from both countries from the 2022 Worlds in Budapest (June 18 to July 3) due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the body announced on Wednesday March 23, in a press release.
FINA Bureau met, and made further decisions on Russian and Belarusian athletes and event hosting. FULL PRESS RELEA… https://t.co/w6dKXQkLYg
“Following these decisions, FINA has been informed by the Russian Swimming Federation of the withdrawal of all Russian swimmers” of its competitions “for the rest of this year”, specifies the organization. Swimming thus joins the many sports that have kept Russian athletes out of international competitions, from football to athletics, including ice hockey, rugby, badminton, handball, cycling and the Paralympic Winter Games.
Hardly tenable
At the beginning of March, FINA had nevertheless distinguished itself by authorizing Russians and Belarusians to compete, as long as they do so under a neutral banner, such as in tennis, boxing or judo.
But this position became difficult to hold in the face of protests from other delegations, the Swiss Swimming Federation having for example threatened to boycott the Worlds in the event of Russian and Belarusian participation.
The International Swimming Federation has also withdrawn from Russia the competitions it was to host, including the short course world championships scheduled for Kazan from December 17 to 22, and will look for another host city.