It becomes the third nation to drop out of a Qatari-hosted major sporting event in the last week after Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates withdrew from the 2015 World Handball Championships on Monday (November 10).

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates withdrew from the Championships in protest of Qatar's alleged support of Islamist groups in the Middle East, including the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

Although not confirmed, it is believed that this is also the reason for Egypt's withdrawal from the World Short-Course Championships.

Egypt is still set to compete at next year's World Handball Championships, however.

Farida Osman recorded Egypt's best ever finish at a major international meet when she came home seventh in the women's 50m butterfly final in at the world Aquatics Championships in Barcelona in 2013 ©Getty Images



Upon Egypt's withdrawal, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) announced in a statement that it "regrets the Egyptian Swimming Federation decision to not take part in the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) to be held in Doha, Qatar."

It added: "Working closely with the Local Organising Committee, FINA ensures that optimal conditions will be met for this World Swimming Championships organisation.

"FINA is pleased to announce that most certainly a new record of participation will be established with over 900 athletes from 170 countries taking part in this year's edition of the World Championships."

The Championships are due be held in the Qatari capital from December 3 to 7.

Political tensions between Qatar and three of its fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have become increasingly strained in recent years due to Qatar's perceived support of Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East.

The three nations withdrew their Ambassadors from Qatar in March amid claims that Doha had not implemented an agreement among Gulf Arab countries not to interfere in each others' internal affairs.

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