Aquatics integrity unit

Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev: World Aquatics has announced that it had lifted sanctions on Russian and Belarusian athletes and would allow them to compete with their national flags and anthems.

"Following a decision of the World Aquatics Bureau, and in consultation with the Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU) and the World Aquatics Athletes' Committee, the Guidelines for Athlete Participation in Aquatics Events During a Period of Political Conflict will no longer apply to senior athletes with Belarusian or Russian sporting nationality," the sport's governing body said in a statement published on its official website.

"Senior athletes with Belarusian or Russian sport nationality will be permitted to compete in World Aquatics events in the same way as their counterparts representing other sport nationalities, with their respective uniforms, flags and anthems," it added.