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≡ “NEUTRAL” POLO TEAMS? ≡
World Aquatics has been in the forefront of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete internationally on a “neutral” basis, after a review to assure their “neutrality” concerning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In a 3 November 2025 letter to World Aquatics member federations, Executive Director Brett Nowicki (USA) explained a further clarification of the eligibility policy:
“We write to update you on a recent decision of the World Aquatics Bureau modifying the Guidelines for Athlete Participation in World Aquatics Events During Periods of Conflict (the ‘Guidelines’).
“In this regard, please be advised that Neutral Athletes are now eligible to participate in all water polo competitions and team events, in addition to individual events. The same eligibility, integrity, and neutrality conditions as previously applied under the Guidelines to individual athletes will continue to be strictly enforced by the Aquatics Integrity Unit.
“In addition, the Guidelines now extend to all Continental-level events, in addition to any World Aquatics event or qualifying competition for the World Championships and/or the Olympic Games, across all disciplines and age categories.”
The Russian news agency TASS reported that this new World Aquatics policy would start beginning on 1 January 2026.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee recommended that Russian and Belarusian teams by excluded from international competitions.
The TASS story noted that “Russian athletes will be allowed to take part in competitions in a neutral status and will be banned from associating themselves with Russia in any way.”
However, if implemented in a parallel fashion to World Aquatics’ policy for individual neutrals, the new regulations open the door for Russian and Belarusian teams to compete in team water polo competitions, with all players individually reviewed for “neutrality.”
At the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, Belarusian “neutrals” were entered as “Neutral Athletes A” and Russians as “Neutral Athletes B,” including in relays. Belarusian athletes won a total of three medals (0-1-2) and Russians won 18 (6-8-4), the fifth-highest total overall.
Because of their ban from international competition since 2022, neither Belarus nor Russia are world-ranked in water polo in either the men’s or women’s divisions and will have to work their way back up into ranking contention.
This new policy is out of line with the IOC’s continuing 2022 recommendation on a ban for Russian and Belarusian teams, which matters for the 2028 Olympic Games, but not for World Aquatics’ own competitions from January of 2026 on.
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