Official: These Russians and Belarusians are cleared to compete in the World Cup

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has released the first list of Russian and Belarusian athletes who are permitted to compete this season as neutral athletes.

According to SVT Sport, the decision immediately opens the door for participation in the FIS World Cup. In cross-country skiing, Saveliy Korostelev (Russia) and Daria Nepryayeva (Russia) have been approved and could race as soon as this weekend in Davos. Korostelev told SVT Sport: “I am very happy that it will be my World Cup debut this coming weekend.”

In total, FIS has cleared nine athletes: three Russians and six Belarusians. Seven of them are from non‑Nordic disciplines (freeski/big air and one alpine athlete), while Korostelev and Nepryayeva are the only cross‑country skiers on the list. Also included is 2021 ski big air world champion Anastasia Tatalina.

All nine athletes have met FIS’s neutrality criteria and must compete under a neutral flag. The pathway was opened after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) annulled FIS’s blanket exclusion of Russian and Belarusian participants, in place since Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in spring 2022.

However, only individual athletes are eligible; national teams are still not allowed. To qualify, athletes must not have supported the war, must have no links to the Russian or Belarusian military, and must have been available for anti‑doping testing. Today’s clearance does not guarantee Olympic participation: the IOC has its own review panel that will decide whether neutral athletes may compete at the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Games.

FIS’s approved list (as reported by SVT Sport):

Russia: - Saveliy Korostelev (men, cross‑country skiing) - Daria Nepryayeva (women, cross‑country skiing) - Anastasia Tatalina (women, ski big air)

Belarus: - Uladzislau Vazniuk (men, freeski) - Maria Shkanova (women, alpine) - Hanna Huskova (women, freeski) - Ihar Drabiankou (men, freeski) - Anna Derugo (women, freeski) - Anastasija Andrjianava (women, freeski)