According to Eurosport, which cited the Polish state news agency PAP, Poland used strategic delays to prevent the federations from submitting entries on time and also cited security concerns near the Ukrainian border.
Diplomatic pressure from World Aquatics
World Aquatics and its European branch urged Poland to allow the athletes to compete, even under neutral flags. Jędrzejczak said Poland used the full seven-day response window to delay proceedings.
“We did everything to uphold our original plan for Russians and Belarusians not to compete. Of course, it was also related to the fact that these federations did not submit applications on time,” she explained.
She also recalled telling the head of the Russian Olympic Committee that no visas would be issued for the event.
Final opportunity to enforce a ban
Jędrzejczak, the only World Aquatics board member to vote against readmitting Russians and Belarusians to senior competitions in October, admitted this was likely the final chance to enforce a ban.
She warned that from January 2026, athletes from these countries are expected to return to senior competitions under World Aquatics rules. Juniors are already allowed to compete without displaying national affiliations.
Poland cited its proximity to the war in Ukraine as a reason for caution, with Lublin hosting many refugees.
Otylia Jędrzejczak, Olympic champion, two-time world champion, five-time European long-course champion and three-time world record holder, also reminded the board of a temporary ministerial ban on Russian nationals entering Poland, except in exceptional cases.
(mp)
Source: Eurosport/PAP