Saturday, April 26, 2025
Brock's Only Independent Student Newspaper
One of the only worker-managed newspapers in Canada

Russian and Belarusian athletes not competing at 2023 World Championships

|
|

No athletes from Russia or Belarus are slated to compete in the swimming world championship this year in Japan as it is expected that the sport’s governing body won’t make a decision about their eligibility until it is too late for them to enter.

The task group will look at how Russia and Belarus might participate in swimming, diving and water polo as neutral athletes. In July — the same month as the world championships in Fukuoka — an update is anticipated.

June 27 is the entry date for diving and swimming. The entry day for water polo is July 3. The competition begins on July 14.

The International Olympic Committee requested last week that international sport governing bodies, including World Aquatics, look into methods to reintegrate Russian and Belarusian athletes with neutral status prior to the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

This was one of the three most prominent sporting events at the Olympics who got asked to reintegrate Russian and Belarusian players. Track and field committees and gymnastics committees have been asked to do the same, as similarly to the swimming world championships, they are not allowing Russian or Belarusian to compete at their world championships.

According to the IOC, athletes who actively backed the conflict in Ukraine or who work for the armed forces or national security services should not be considered impartial. The IOC stated last week that Russia and Belarus should also continue to be barred from team sports.

Within weeks after last year’s invasion of Ukraine, the majority of Olympic sports prohibited those nations from participating in or hosting international competitions.

These decisions may affect the competition at the swimming world championship as in 2019 Russia placed third in the medal table, winning 12 golds, 11 silvers and 10 bronze medals.

More by this author

RELATED ARTICLES

Women’s sports threatened by new research cuts  

The intersection of politics and sports took another sharp turn when the Trump administration issued a sweeping directive through Executive Order 14168, removing the terms “female,” gender,” “pregnant” and “LGBTQ+” from all federal research grants. 

By the numbers: Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal-scoring record 

The chase is over: Alex Ovechkin has broken Wayne Gretzky’s 31-year NHL regular season goal-scoring record. 

Gala caps off Brock’s winning sports year 

The athletic term at Brock University closes with a celebration recognizing student athletes, coaches and teams who defined the 2024-25 season.  

Florida’s journey to winning NCAA championship  

With the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four concluded, the stage was set for the national championship game between the University of Florida Gators and the University of Houston Cougars. 

UConn women finish season as champions 

The University of Connecticut Huskies clinched their 12th NCAA National Championship by defeating the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, marking UConn’s first national title since 2016.  

Bayern Munich threatens legal action against Canada Soccer following Alphonso Davies’ knee injury 

German soccer club Bayern Munich have threatened to sue Canada Soccer in the aftermath of Alphonso Davies’ ACL tear, suffered during the latest international window. 

Banner SZN: Recapping U Sports winners of the 2024-25 indoor season 

Another U Sports season full of excitement, disappointment and triumph is in the books, leaving one team standing amongst each sport at the end of a grueling season. 

Ouellette, Hood named The Brock Press’ Rookies of the Year 

Rémi Ouellette (men’s track and field) and Sydney Hood (women’s hockey) have been selected as The Brock Press’ Rookies of the Year for the 2024-25 season.