One more. World Rowing, the international rowing federation, has joined the ranks of those bodies of the Olympic movement that have chosen to follow the IOC’s recommendation and reinstate the Russian and Belarusian athletes. Its Executive Committee made the decision this week, after consulting the rowing community. The rowers from the two countries at war with Ukraine will be able to compete at the 2023 World Championships, but as neutral individual athletes and in a limited number of boat classes. Their eligibility will be determined by a number of criteria, following “a background check to ensure that they are not associated with the war in Ukraine, or publicly supporting it in any form.” World Rowing has also announced that it is setting up a working group to advise the executive committee on the conditions to be met by athletes and officials holding Russian and Belarusian passports to be able to take part in international competitions again. Unlike several other international federations, World Rowing has published the list of competitions affected by the return of Russian and Belarusian rowers. It includes the four world championships on the calendar for 2023, for the under-23s in Plovdiv, the juniors in Paris, the seniors in Belgrade, and the World Rowing Coastal Championships & Beach Sprint Finals in Barletta, Italy. In all cases, their participation will be limited to a few boat classes, but the list has not been given by World Rowing.
