FINA ban Russia and Belarus from World Championships

Russia and Belarus have been banned from this year's aquatics World Championships, governing body FINA has announced.

The ban is the latest sporting sanction to be applied to both countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and applies to all athletes and officials.

The FINA World Championships - which feature swimming, diving, water polo, open-water and artistic swimming - are due to take place in Budapest from 18 June to 3 July.

Russia has subsequently announced its withdrawal from all other events for the remainder of the year.

FINA has also confirmed that it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Russian swimmer Evgeny Rylov after he allegedly attended a pro-war rally in Moscow in potential contravention of the body's rules.

A statement from FINA on Wednesday read: "The FINA bureau met today and confirmed that athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus will not take part in the upcoming 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022.

"Following these decisions, FINA was informed by the Russian Swimming Federation of the withdrawal of all Russian aquatics athletes from all FINA events for the rest of this year.

"Separately, the FINA executive confirmed that the FINA disciplinary panel has opened a procedure against Russian swimmer Evgeny Rylov for a potential violation of the FINA rules following his alleged participation in a pro-war rally at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

"The FINA executive has requested that the panel's proceedings be expedited.

"FINA maintains its strongest condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. FINA also wishes to reiterate its commitment to supporting the Ukraine Swimming, Diving and Artistic Swimming Federation as they prepare for upcoming competitions."

FINA has also confirmed the