Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been granted permission to compete under their national flags at senior World Aquatics events following the lifting of a strict ban.
Competitors representing the two nations had previously been restricted to neutral status since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Swimming’s global governing body had already permitted junior competitors to race under their own colours since December.
Strict testing protocols required for return
The latest update aligns senior regulations with a recent recommendation from the International Olympic Committee summit.
World Aquatics president Husain Al Musallam stated the organisation is committed to keeping international conflict out of the sporting arena.
“We are determined to ensure that pools and open water remain places where athletes from all nations can come together in peaceful competition.”
The official statement confirmed that political conflict guidelines will no longer apply to those holding Russian or Belarusian sporting nationality.
Anti-doping and background checks implemented
Swimmers returning to international waters must first successfully pass a minimum of four successive anti-doping controls.
Thorough background evaluations will also be conducted by the Aquatics Integrity Unit alongside the International Testing Agency.
This decision mirrors a similar move by the International Paralympic Committee during the recent Games.
Meanwhile, Fifa president Gianni Infantino indicated earlier this year that world football’s governing body might consider lifting its own ban on Russian participation.
Scottish 200m record holder Beth Dobbin has announced her retirement from athletics at the age of 31 following a three-year battle with an undisclosed, life-changing health issue.
The former Olympian represented her country at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, where she impressively reached the semi-finals of her signature sprinting event.
On the international stage, the talented runner secured a 4x400m relay bronze medal for Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The 31-year-old also proved her consistency at the highest level by competing at three European Championships and two World Championships during her distinguished career.
A delayed breakthrough and historic records
Despite missing out on junior selections early in her career, the late-blooming sprinter finally burst onto the senior scene at the age of 24.
In 2018, she shattered a long-standing Scottish 200m record that had remained untouched for 34 years before being crowned British champion later that same season.
The record-breaking athlete subsequently set her personal best time of 22.50 seconds at the prestigious Anniversary Games in London the following year.
An enforced and cruel departure
Revealing the heart-breaking news of her departure across social media, the esteemed track star admitted she could not possibly list all the highs she had experienced.
However, she chose to keep the specific details of her debilitating medical condition private while reflecting positively on her unconventional journey to the top.
“I am very proud of my journey. From never getting close to making junior teams to breaking through at 24.”
Discussing her prolonged and difficult absence from competitive action, the Scottish athlete highlighted the isolated nature of dealing with severe sickness compared to standard sporting ailments.
“Unlike injuries, where you are surrounded by physio expertise, this often isn’t the case with illness.”
“Instead it’s been a journey of getting answers and trialing treatment.”
Leaving the track with fulfilled dreams
The physical toll and lengthy diagnostic processes ultimately forced the Commonwealth medalist to step away from the sport prematurely.
“On one hand it feels like my career has been cut short and it feels cruel not to be retiring on my own terms. On the other, I achieved so much more than I ever expected.”
“I may not be leaving the sport with an Olympic medal, but I’m leaving with many dreams fulfilled.”
Australian 18-year-old Gout Gout has set a new world under-20 record by running the 200m in 19.67 seconds at the national championships in Sydney on Sunday, eclipsing Usain Bolt’s fastest teenage time.
The Queensland-born athlete claimed the national title while officially bettering the 19.93-second mark established by Jamaican legend Bolt as a 17-year-old in 2004.
Bolt never ran faster as a teenager before eventually setting the senior world record of 19.19 seconds in Berlin five years later.
This latest blistering performance leaves the rising star less than half a second behind the greatest 200m time in history.
Record-breaking legal run
Although the lightning-fast youngster clocked a wind-assisted 19.84 seconds last season, Sunday’s stunning race marks his first legally recognised sub-20-second effort.
“This is what I’ve been waiting for. We have such incredible athletes in Australia and me being able to race these athletes, we push each other to the limits.”
“There’s a big weight off my shoulders knowing I ran it legally, and I have the speed and my body to run times like that,” he added.
Fellow compatriot Aidan Murphy also dipped under the 20-second barrier during the same blistering final, finishing in 19.88 seconds to secure a remarkable one-two finish.
Global targets on the horizon
The official world under-20 record previously stood at 19.69 seconds, set by American sprinter Erriyon Knighton.
While Knighton did clock a faster 19.49 in 2022, that particular time was never officially ratified by the sport’s global governing body.
Looking ahead, the teenager of South Sudanese descent will now skip the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this July.
Instead, his primary focus shifts to August’s World Under-20 Championships in Oregon, where he aims to cement his status as athletics’ next global phenomenon.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy has candidly evaluated his overall performance at the 2026 Masters, awarding his impressive scrambling abilities an A+ grade while acknowledging other areas for improvement.
The Northern Irishman arrived at Augusta National shouldering the immense pressure of defending the prestigious Green Jacket he captured in 2025.
Reflecting on his tournament statistics after the final round, the four-time major winner provided a detailed breakdown of his specific strengths and weaknesses.
Stellar recovery skills
When analysing his short game, the former world number one was particularly effusive about his ability to consistently save par from difficult positions.
“Scrambling A+!”
Navigating the famously treacherous slopes of Augusta’s pristine green complexes requires extreme precision, and his deft touch around the putting surfaces stood out as a clear highlight.
Searching for consistency
However, the notoriously self-critical golfer also highlighted specific facets of his ball-striking that fell slightly short of his own lofty standards.
Successfully defending a title at the world’s most exclusive invitational event is an arduous task, with only a select few legendary players ever managing to claim back-to-back victories.
While the week may not have yielded another historic triumph, the 36-year-old’s honest assessment will provide a clear blueprint for his upcoming practice sessions.
Pundits Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley have debated whether Rory McIlroy stands as the greatest European golfer of all time ahead of his latest bid to win The Masters.
The Northern Irishman remains heavily scrutinised as he attempts to finally complete the career grand slam at Augusta National.
American analyst Chamblee and former Ryder Cup captain McGinley evaluated his legacy during recent broadcast discussions.
Chasing history at Augusta
The former world number one is currently tied on four major championships, placing him among the elite tier of modern competitors.
However, the Holywood native still trails Sir Nick Faldo, who holds the all-time record for a European player with six major titles.
Spanish icon Seve Ballesteros also sits ahead of the standout European star in the history books with five major victories.
Defining a lasting legacy
McGinley, who famously led Europe to Ryder Cup glory in 2014, has closely monitored the development of his compatriot for over a decade.
The debate surrounding the four-time major winner often centres on his profound overall impact on the sport rather than just his trophy cabinet.
Securing a coveted green jacket would undoubtedly strengthen his claim to the title of Europe’s undisputed golfing great.
Tyson Fury has targeted a long-awaited domestic showdown with Anthony Joshua in 2026 after launching his latest boxing comeback with a points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in London on Saturday.
The 36-year-old heavyweight immediately called out his British rival following the comprehensive win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A clash between the two domestic giants has been negotiated for over a decade without coming to fruition.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has predicted that finally staging the bout would create the richest fight in boxing history, potentially generating purses exceeding £100m for both men.
The Joshua showdown
The pair exchanged words at ringside at the weekend, though no official agreement was reached.
The Gypsy King insists he has already signed a contract for the matchup, but his fellow Briton remains non-committal.
The former Olympic champion has only fought once in the last 19 months, securing a victory over internet personality Jake Paul in December.
His last major competitive appearance ended in a devastating fifth-round knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in 2024.
The Watford-born fighter also suffered a personal tragedy in December when a fatal car crash in Nigeria claimed the lives of two close friends.
“Once I’m 100 per cent, I’ll fight.”
That brief statement from Joshua suggests the heavyweight is still taking time away from the sport to process the recent tragedy.
Usyk trilogy or retirement
If negotiations for a domestic blockbuster fail, the Morecambe-based fighter declared that only a third bout with Oleksandr Usyk would prevent him from returning to retirement.
The Ukrainian master currently holds the WBC, WBA, and IBF world titles after handing his British rival the only two defeats of his professional career.
Both previous encounters resulted in points victories for the unified champion following 24 rounds of ferociously competitive action.
Despite the undisputed champion’s clear dominance in their previous meetings, the British challenger continues to dispute those decisions.
However, public appetite for a third instalment appears limited compared to the monumental appeal of an all-British clash.
Fresh faces in the division
Following his victory in north London, the returning heavyweight was adamant he would walk away entirely if neither marquee fight could be secured.
He explicitly dismissed any interest in facing the younger generation of fighters currently rising through the heavyweight ranks.
Despite these claims, a lucrative opportunity could present itself when knockout specialists Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois clash in Manchester on May 9.
The winner of that domestic dust-up will claim the WBO belt, potentially tempting the veteran back into the ring for a chance to become a three-time world champion.
Capturing another world title would significantly increase his bargaining power in any future negotiations with the heavyweight elite.
Justin Rose suffered further heartbreak at the Masters on Sunday as he surrendered a final-day lead to finish two shots behind reigning champion Rory McIlroy at Augusta National.
The 45-year-old shot a closing two-under-par 70 to finish on 10 under for the tournament, extending his agonising wait for a coveted green jacket.
Despite becoming the oldest player in tournament history to record back-to-back top-five finishes, the veteran was left to rue a costly sequence of dropped shots.
Amen Corner proves pivotal
The Englishman made a blistering start to his final round, covering the front nine in four under par to take a commanding two-shot advantage at the turn.
However, his momentum was abruptly halted around the notorious Amen Corner, where back-to-back bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes erased his cushion.
A costly three-putt for par from 30 feet on the par-five 13th further derailed his charge, before a late bogey on the 17th definitively ended his hopes of catching the Northern Irishman.
“[It was a] chance that got away, obviously,” admitted Rose following his round.
“I was by no means kind of free and clear and was nowhere kind of close to having the job done, but I was right in position.”
“The mentality was to run through the finish line – not just try and get it done. I was playing great, but just momentum shifted for me around the Amen Corner.”
Another near miss at Augusta
This latest setback comes just 12 months after the Olympic gold medallist was narrowly defeated by McIlroy in a dramatic sudden-death playoff.
He has now accumulated three runner-up finishes at the prestigious Georgia venue, tying him for the second-most second-place finishes without a victory behind Tom Weiskopf.
“With a sudden-death loss you kind of know you got to the house,” the former world number one explained when comparing the two defeats.
“You’ve done everything it took to win. Then it comes down to flick of a coin at times.”
“Whereas today I felt like, yeah, there was an opportunity to do better, so obviously that is frustrating for sure.”
Looking ahead to Masters history
Despite the frustration of a 16th top-25 finish in 21 appearances, the experienced campaigner felt the unwavering support of the patrons, who offered a rapturous ovation on the 18th fairway.
He will be 46 when he returns for another attempt next spring, the exact age Jack Nicklaus was when he famously became the oldest Masters champion in 1986.
Fellow professional Tyrrell Hatton remains confident that his compatriot’s time will eventually come at the first major championship of the year.
“I feel like if there was anyone that is deserving of a green jacket, it probably would be Rosey,” Hatton said.
Wout van Aert out-sprinted world champion Tadej Pogacar in the Roubaix Velodrome to win the Paris-Roubaix classic and end his decade-long curse on the cobbles.
The 31-year-old Belgian secured his second Monument title following a brutal five-hour race marred by punctures and severe mechanical issues.
He perfectly timed his final burst of speed to thwart the Slovenian rider’s attempt to make cycling history in the “Hell of the North”.
Pogacar denied historic treble
Pogacar arrived in France seeking a remarkable third Monument victory of the season after already triumphing at Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders.
The current world champion was also attempting to become the first Tour de France winner to conquer this treacherous course since Bernard Hinault in 1981.
However, the Visma-Lease a Bike rider matched his rival’s powerful attacks across the brutal cobbled sectors before overpowering him on the final track.
“Arriving for a final sprint with the world champion and beating him in a sprint is very special,” said the victorious rider.
Heartbreak for Van der Poel
Mathieu van der Poel saw his hopes of securing a fourth consecutive victory in the prestigious race destroyed by significant mechanical misfortune.
The Dutch pre-race favourite suffered two separate equipment failures and lost more than two minutes on a particularly challenging cobbled sector.
Despite mounting a valiant chase, he could not contest the final sprint and was forced to settle for fourth position behind Jasper Stuyven.
An emotional tribute
Victory proved incredibly poignant for the Belgian powerhouse after years of crashing out and suffering untimely punctures in the spring classics.
“It’s everything to me, it’s been a goal since I first did this race,” he explained.
“I stopped believing a lot of times but I would start believing again the next day.”
The newly crowned champion dedicated his monumental triumph to the memory of Michael Goolaerts.
His former teammate tragically passed away in 2018 after suffering a cardiac arrest while competing in the exact same event.