It comes after the governing body backed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board's recommendations on reintegrating the two countries into global sport following the invasion of Ukraine.

The IOC said that individual Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to re-enter competition as neutrals, if they are not openly in support of the war or affiliated to the military.

This rolled back the stance the IOC adopted after Vladimir Putin launched his invasion in February 2022, when it called for an outright ban.

World Aquatics banned Russia and Belarus the following month.

Maureen Croes, the President of Panam Aquatics from Aruba, will chair the task force which will include "athletes and representatives from across the aquatics community".

insidethegames has asked World Aquatics for a full list.

The group will begin its work "immediately" with a recommendation due to be presented to the World Aquatics Bureau.

It is highly likely that this will propose allowing Russian and Belarusians back in some way.

However, the Bureau will not hear a report until its meeting in July, with the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka in Japan due to take place between July 14 and 30.

"The World Aquatics Bureau met today and gave its support to the statement made by the IOC Executive Board on 28 March 2023 regarding the potential future participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in international competitions," a World Aquatics statement said.

"This statement followed the request from the majority of the Olympic Movement stakeholders to the IOC to explore the potential return of athletes from Russia and Belarus to international sports events, based on the principles of the Olympic Charter.

"The World Aquatics Bureau approved the establishment of a task force to explore a potential pathway for athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport to participate in future international aquatics events as individual neutral athletes."

World Aquatics said it had reaffirmed its commitment to Ukrainian athletes.

The Ukrainian Government has already said that the country will not compete in Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers if Russians are present.

"World Aquatics reaffirms its steadfast commitment and concern for Ukraine, notably on Ukrainian aquatics athletes impacted by the invasion of their country," the governing body added.

"Ukrainian aquatics athletes continue to receive support from World Aquatics and its partners, notably European Aquatics (LEN) and the Ukraine Swimming, Diving and Artistic Swimming Federations, for training and competition.

"World Aquatics will continue to prioritise measures aimed at supporting the Ukrainian aquatics community, alongside national swimming federations, National Olympic Committees, the International Olympic Committee and LEN."

The IOC insists that no decision has been taken on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and it is up to individual sports whether to adopt their recommendations.

It comes at a crucial time with Paris 2024 qualification already underway in many sports.

Fencing, table tennis, taekwondo and wrestling are among sports which have indicated that they will also adhere with the IOC's recommendation.

However, others such as equestrian and sport climbing have said their bans will remain in place.