Swimming Australia has opted against sending teams to the world's two biggest junior meets, citing fears about the coronavirus pandemic.
Australia's top junior swimmers will miss the World Junior Championships in Russia and the World Universiade Games, both in August this year.
Instead, Swimming Australia will organise a competition in Australia for the elite juniors.
Australia's youth coach Glenn Beringen supported the decision not to send swimmers to the world juniors in Kazan and the Universiade games in Chengdu.
"Due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic this is the right decision," Beringen said in a statement on Thursday.
Swimming Australia's chief strategist Alex Baumann said the risks in sending teams to both junior meets was too high.
"We worked very closely with our chief medical officer... to consider all risks, including the health and wellbeing of our athletes, coaches and staff," he said.
Government advice on international travel and parental concerns were also considered.
"Given all those factors it was decided it was neither viable nor safe to travel overseas to compete with these teams," Baumann said.
Teams for the national junior meet in August will be selected from the Australian age championships and Australian trials in June.
This meet will be classified as the international benchmark event for Swimming Australia for the purposes of future pathway program selections.
