FIS rules Russian and Belarusian skiers out of international competitions and the 2026 Olympics after six-hour council meeting

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Council decided in a remote meeting to continue barring Russian and Belarusian athletes from all FIS-governed competitions, including World Cups, and from the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The ruling explicitly rejects participation even under neutral status.

According to Finnish council member Martti Uusitalo, the meeting began at 14:00 and the decision was announced after 20:00 following an anonymous vote. He described the discussion as open and thorough, with all viewpoints heard, and said it was important to examine the issue in detail before voting. FIS has excluded Russian and Belarusian athletes since March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The IOC confirmed in September that Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete at the 2026 Olympics as neutrals, with restrictions similar to those applied for Paris 2024—no team events, bans on athletes who publicly support the war or serve in the military, and strict anti‑doping requirements. However, final participation decisions rest with international federations, and FIS has now chosen to keep its ban in place.

Uusitalo, who also sits on the Finnish Ski Association and the Finnish Olympic Committee boards, said Finland’s stance has long been clear: it does not want Russian or Belarusian athletes admitted. He noted that the issue is viewed differently in the Nordic countries compared to parts of Central Europe, and he declined to disclose details of the vote because council members agreed not to publicize results.

FIS President Johan Eliasch has publicly argued for allowing Russian athletes to return, saying athletes should not be discriminated against based on birthplace. Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported that FIS had circulated a letter to member nations seeking support for reinstatement. Uusitalo said the letter emphasized sporting considerations and political neutrality, but he argued that the actions and messaging from Russia and Belarus have made neutrality difficult to verify.

Other federations are split. The International Biathlon Union (IBU) has no rules permitting neutral athletes and allows participation only by athletes representing IBU member federations; the Russian and Belarusian biathlon federations were suspended in September 2022. The international bobsleigh federation has taken a similar position. By contrast, skating and ski mountaineering bodies have allowed some Russians to compete as neutrals: three figure skaters—Petr Gumennik, Viktoriia Safonova, and Adeliia Petrosian—have been cleared for Olympic qualification, Russian ski mountaineers have received a quota place, and 18 Russian speed skaters have been authorized to race in North American qualifiers.

The article also notes examples of prominent Russian cross‑country skiers: Alexander Bolshunov has denied supporting the war in interviews, but he was honored at a ceremony marking the 2014 annexation of Crimea and was named a captain in Russia’s armed forces. Veronika Stepanova has been photographed with President Vladimir Putin multiple times and accused of spreading propaganda.

In summary, despite the IOC’s neutral‑athlete pathway, FIS will continue to exclude Russians and Belarusians from international skiing competitions and the 2026 Games, following a lengthy and contentious council debate.