Cross Country Skiing
Unusual Finnish selection dilemma in cross-country skiing — Perttu Hyvärinen’s decision underlines a ruthless Olympic fight
December 03, 2025 / Yle
Finland left A-team athletes Remi Lindholm and Perttu Hyvärinen off the roster for the Trondheim World Cup as both manage form and health issues early in the season. Head coach Teemu Pasanen says Hyvärinen, in agreement with his personal coach, will skip Trondheim to train and aim for Davos and the Tour de Ski, with Olympic selection battles tightening due to Finland’s limited seven-man quota. Several men are vying for spots, while the women’s team is more settled with three already selected for Milan–Cortina 2026.
Trondheim mayor criticizes possible participation of Russian athletes in Granåsen World Cup
December 02, 2025 / NRK Trøndelag
Trondheim mayor Kent Ranum says he hopes no Russian athletes appear at this weekend’s World Cup races in Granåsen after a ruling allowed Russians to compete internationally. Event leaders note the timing and entry deadlines make participation in Trondheim unlikely, but discussions with FIS are ongoing. Russian head coach Egor Sorin joked they could arrive by helicopter, while skier Veronika Stepanova said she will not race in Trondheim.
“Unacceptable!” Olympic champion Bolshunov lashes out and injures rival after sprint semifinal
December 02, 2025 / krone.at
At a domestic sprint event in Kirovsk, Russian Olympic cross‑country champion Alexander Bolshunov attacked fellow skier Alexander Bakurov in the finish area after both missed the final. Bakurov suffered an elbow injury and expects about two weeks out, calling the behavior “unacceptable.” Bolshunov suggested he might be banned for several races, but the penalty was limited to one race; Russians remain barred from FIS World Cups due to the war in Ukraine.
Iivo Niskanen in, Perttu Hyvärinen and Remi Lindholm out – Finland names squads for the next World Cups
December 02, 2025 / Yle
Finland announced its teams for upcoming Nordic World Cup stops: cross-country skiing and Nordic combined in Trondheim, and ski jumping in Wisła. Iivo Niskanen will compete in Trondheim after skipping Sunday’s 20 km free in Ruka, while Perttu Hyvärinen and Remi Lindholm are left out. The article lists full Finnish rosters for cross-country, Nordic combined and ski jumping, and notes women’s Nordic combined begins its World Cup in Trondheim, while Wisła hosts HS134 large hill events for both genders.
Cross-country skiing: Good news — William Poromaa and Linn Svahn return for Trondheim World Cup
December 02, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden’s Linn Svahn and William Poromaa, who missed the Ruka World Cup opener due to illness, are back in the squad for this weekend’s Trondheim World Cup at Granåsen. Head coach Anders Byström also recalls rising star Alvar Myhlback and hands a national team debut to 24-year‑old Rikard Vestin, while veterans Jens Burman and Calle Halfvarsson remain out after poor form in Gällivare. SVT lists the full Swedish roster for sprint classic, 20 km skiathlon, and 10 km freestyle, along with the event schedule (Dec 5–7).
Yle expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen dismayed by CAS ruling allowing Russian and Belarusian skiers as neutrals: “I don’t understand the logic”
December 02, 2025 / Yle
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned FIS’s blanket ban, ruling that Russian and Belarusian athletes in FIS skiing disciplines who meet IOC neutrality criteria must be allowed to compete at the Milano–Cortina Olympics. Finnish cross‑country great and Yle pundit Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen criticizes the decision, questioning both the consistency with earlier exclusions and how neutrality will be verified in practice. She doubts top Russians tied to the military will qualify and is skeptical that any reliable system can screen support for the war.
Russia wins CAS appeal – athletes allowed to compete in Olympic Nordic events as neutrals
December 02, 2025 / NRK Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld an appeal by Russian and Belarusian athletes against FIS’s blanket ban, compelling FIS to admit neutral-status athletes in its competitions and Olympic qualifiers. FIS now requires athletes seeking neutral status to email an application and pass strict criteria regarding military ties, wartime support and anti‑doping compliance. The ruling opens the door for participation in cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined at Milano–Cortina 2026, with immediate implications for World Cup events, including Trondheim and Davos.
CAS opens door for Russian and Belarusian skiers to compete at the 2026 Olympics as neutral athletes
December 02, 2025 / Yle
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Russian and Belarusian athletes in FIS disciplines who meet IOC eligibility criteria must be allowed to take part in FIS qualification events and, consequently, the 2026 Winter Olympics as neutral athletes. The decision partially overturns FIS’s October ban, citing FIS rules on non‑discrimination and political neutrality, while upholding that only athletes meeting neutrality criteria are eligible. Finnish Ski Association chair Sirpa Korkatti urged patience for FIS guidance, while figures such as Veronika Stepanova and NRK analyst Jan‑Petter Saltvedt reacted to the ruling’s implications.
How Russian skiers have been anti-doping tested during the ban: “They haven’t been able to dope to the hilt”
December 02, 2025 / Yle
After CAS annulled blanket nationality-based bans, Yle examines what anti-doping controls Russian cross‑country skiers have faced since 2022. A FIS anti‑doping expert notes that many Russians remained in the FIS Registered Testing Pool with whereabouts obligations and frequent urine tests analyzed in accredited European labs, though questions persist over blood sample logistics for the biological passport and GH testing. While no positive tests from the ban period have been reported, concerns include reduced test volumes due to cost and the feasibility of transporting blood within 24 hours from remote training locations.
Finnish FIS board member: No well-known Russian skiers on the neutral athletes list
December 02, 2025 / Yle
Finnish FIS board member Martti Uusitalo says the pool of neutral Russian and Belarusian athletes in FIS disciplines is very small and currently does not include any of the well-known Russian cross-country skiers such as Alexander Bolshunov. He notes that CAS ruled neutral Russians and Belarusians should be allowed to compete in FIS events, including World Cup races and the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympics, but Olympic quota places for Russia would be minimal—reportedly one male and one female in cross-country. Uusitalo adds that many top Russians received military honors after Beijing 2022, which would disqualify them from neutral status.
Russian skiers cleared for Olympic return — Finland coach Teemu Pasanen fears cuts to Finnish quota
December 02, 2025 / Yle
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) swiftly ruled that neutral Russian athletes can return to FIS competitions, opening the door to the 2026 Milan–Cortina Olympic cross-country events. Finland head coach Teemu Pasanen worries existing national quotas, already allocated and tight, could be reduced to make room for Russians despite Russia having no recent Nations Ranking points. Sports lawyer Olli Rauste explains the legal basis of the CAS panel’s decision and notes broader IOC dynamics that may favor Russian participation.
Aino-Kaisa Saarinen laments Finland women’s team situation after Ruka — questions FIS entry rules and calls for more Olympic-distance races
December 01, 2025 / Yle
Yle expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen reviews the Ruka World Cup opener, highlighting Krista Pärmäkoski’s retirement and the challenge of finding a versatile successor in Finland’s women’s team. She praises Emil Liekari’s surprise sprint performance, criticizes recent FIS entry policies that allowed very low-ranked skiers into top-tier races, and argues that Olympic-season World Cups should feature more Olympic/Worlds distances. Saarinen also reacts to multiple DNFs in the women’s 20 km mass start on an icy course and stresses the need for technical downhill skills.