Following the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Aquatic (WA) position regarding the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus at the Olympics, World Championships, and World Cup events, the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) Board of Directors (including president and founder Ram Barkai of South Africa, Vice President Jonty Warneken of Great Britain, Vice President Petar Stoychev of Bulgaria, and Directors Joe Zemaitis of the USA and Professor François Bonnici of Switzerland, announced the IISA will follow the same principles.

That is, the IISA has decided that Individual Neutral Swimmers (INS’s) who have qualified through the existing qualification systems of IISA will be declared eligible to compete at IISA International Events under specific conditions. Individual Neutral Swimmers are swimmers with a Russian or Belarusian passport.

Similar to all swimmers at IISA international events, Individual Neutral Swimmers must comply with the rules and regulations of IISA. As per IISA international events, each country receives a specific country allocation for participation in the event. IISA will allocate a quota for swimmers participating under INS.

Swimmers must be IISA members to apply for INS status. They must then fill out a Country Association change form requesting to change their Country Association from Russia or Belarus to INS. IISA will consider each application on its own merits.

This regulation will also apply to support personnel who wish to attend and volunteer for IISA International Events. There are strict eligibility conditions for Individual Neutral Swimmers to participate:

• Swimmers actively supporting the war will not be eligible to change their Country Association or compete.
• Swimmers contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies will not be eligible to enter or compete. Support personnel contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies will not be entered.
• No flag, anthem, colours, or other identifications of Russia or Belarus will be displayed at the Events or related functions.
• No Russian or Belarusian government or state officials will be invited to or accredited.
• No participation in Country Relays.
• A para swimmer wishing to apply for NIS status must also apply to the IISA PRA Committee for PARA Category and classification.

IISA support the IOC Truth declaration is posted here.

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