Russians and Belarusians cleared to return to ski competitions under minimal condition
The Federation was forced to comply with the CAS ruling (Photo: FIS)
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has officially allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international competitions in the 2026–27 season. They are no longer required to undergo special vetting to participate, according to the FIS website.
New eligibility rules
At a meeting of the federation’s council in Thun, Switzerland, officials completely revised the requirements for athletes from aggressor countries.
Whereas previously only a handful of athletes were allowed to compete after a thorough review of their stance on the war, these restrictions have now been lifted. The only formal requirement is to sign a declaration of neutrality.
In which disciplines will neutral athletes compete?
Russians and Belarusians have been granted the right to compete under neutral status in all key disciplines organized by the federation:
- Cross-country skiing and alpine skiing;
- Ski jumping and Nordic combined;
- Freestyle, snowboarding, and freeride.
Courts and the stance of other organizations
This decision was the result of prolonged pressure. As early as December 2025, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the FIS to admit representatives from Russia, even though the federation’s council had previously consistently voted to extend the ban.
Not all winter sports are following this example. For example, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) has upheld the complete suspension of Russia and Belarus, which was imposed at the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
