LONDON – One of the key figures behind diplomatic efforts that secured Russian swimmers’ return to elite competition at this week’s World Championships is now hoping to end Russia’s sporting neutrality, as officials push for wider Olympic participation.

The Russian Olympic Committee was

banned for violating the Olympic Charter

in relation to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but some of its athletes competed as neutrals at the 2024 Paris Olympics and sports such as swimming are gradually welcoming more Russians back into the fold.

Dmitry Mazepin, president of the Russian Aquatic Sports Federation and vice-president of the ROC, said he would do his best to ensure that Russian athletes compete under their national flag in time for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and urged the sporting community to end double standards.

“If you are in the wrong sport, you will be punished,” he said, pointing to tennis and ice hockey, where individuals have been allowed to continue competing, while many swimmers have been left out in the cold.

“I’m happy for the moment that my athletes and swimmers can compete everywhere. Unfortunately with the neutral flag, but they can compete.”

Mazepin said negotiations on swimming participation included personal meetings with World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam and countering what he called “political” opposition from certain countries, particularly Nordic states.

The doping scandals that plagued Russian sport for years no longer form a part of opposition to Russians’ participation, he said.

“It’s always about political cases,” Mazepin said. “We do not discuss any doping issues.”

In October 2023, the IOC suspended the ROC for admitting regional sports organisations u...