Ukrainian diving federation moves to strip Sofiia Lyskun of titles after switch to Russia

The Ukrainian Diving Federation has announced plans to revoke all awards held by European champion Sofiia Lyskun after the 23-year-old diver changed her international allegiance to Russia, Sport360NG reports.

Lyskun, who won the 10m synchronized diving title at last year’s European Aquatics Championships, made the switch earlier this week. The federation stated that she failed to notify its officials, coaching staff, or Ukraine’s Ministry of Youth and Sports before making the decision. In a strongly worded statement, it described her actions as “categorically unacceptable” and said they “discredit not only an individual athlete, but also the entire Ukrainian team, which selflessly fights every day to represent our country internationally.”

Speaking to Russian outlet Izvestia, Lyskun said she had felt she was no longer developing under her Ukrainian coaches, whom she described as “all gymnasts or trampoline athletes.”

At an extraordinary executive committee meeting, the federation unanimously decided to expel Lyskun from the national team and strip her of all titles and awards earned under its auspices. The federation also said it would appeal to international sports bodies to impose sanctions on the athlete “in accordance with current international standards.”

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, athletes from Russia and Belarus were banned from World Aquatics events. Those restrictions have since been relaxed, allowing Russian and Belarusian competitors to participate as neutral athletes without national symbols. From January, they will also be permitted to compete as neutral participants in team events.