How FIS checks Russian athletes’ neutrality before Davos World Cup entry

FIS expects “a number” of Russian athletes to appear at this weekend’s World Cup races in Davos, but only if they are approved to start as neutral athletes.

FIS competition director Sandra Spitz says decisions are not final yet but may come within days. The approvals matter because Davos serves both as a World Cup start and a pathway to Olympic qualification.

How the process works - Decision makers: a three‑person panel consisting of FIS secretary general Michel Vion, an independent sports‑integrity expert, and another FIS official. - Evidence base: a report prepared by an external company that reviews each athlete’s online footprint and other public‑domain activities to check for signs that would violate neutrality requirements. - Outcome: athletes who pass are cleared to compete under neutral status; those who do not are refused.

Spitz says FIS has full confidence that the system yields the right information. She declined to specify how many Russians and Belarusians may be cleared, saying only “a few,” and emphasized that the goal is to complete the checks as soon as possible.

Context The scrutiny follows a recent Court of Arbitration for Sport decision that opened the door for Russian participation under neutrality in certain winter sports. The Davos World Cup is therefore a key test case, with several Russian athletes hoping to be cleared in time to race and keep their Olympic hopes alive.

The report notes that Ukrainian biathlete Khrystyna Dmytrenko and Swedish officials have criticized the CAS ruling, while news items indicate that Russia’s Savely (Savelij) Korostelev is being flown to Davos pending clearance.