Russian skier Savely Korostelev returns to World Cup in Davos as neutral — comments on doping tests; Mika Vermeulen defends him

Russian cross‑country skiers appeared in the World Cup for the first time since March 2022 when Savely Korostelev and Darja Nepryayeva raced the freestyle sprint in Davos. Both competed under a neutral athlete status after meeting IOC eligibility criteria; Korostelev finished 52nd in the men’s qualification and Nepryayeva 39th among women, missing the heats.

Korostelev told Yle he was happy simply to be back and hopes to improve through the season while aiming for the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympics. He said that since 2022 the Russian group first trained two years in Russia, then held camps in Turkey and Armenia, and last season began to camp more in Europe to prepare for the Olympics. In Davos he traveled with only a ski technician from Russia and said he has a “best friend” on the Italian team who has kept him company.

On doping control, Korostelev said he has been tested many times—by Russian authorities and internationally—and that, as he understands it, the information is publicly available. He declined to comment on Russia’s war in Ukraine, saying he is focused on sport.

The article also quotes Austria’s Mika Vermeulen, one of the top men’s skiers at present, who publicly supported Korostelev, calling him a friend and arguing that the situation is sensitive: whatever position athletes take invites criticism. Vermeulen emphasized that only one man and one woman have been admitted, not the entire Russian team, and that their presence does not change the larger geopolitical picture.

The background outlined is that FIS decided in October to bar Russian and Belarusian skiers from international competitions, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned that decision, allowing eligible athletes to compete as neutrals. Both Korostelev and Nepryayeva are also attempting to qualify for the 2026 Olympics.