Norwegian expert surprised by continued Russia ban – Russian coach alleges Nordic boycott threat

The International Ski Federation (FIS) has decided to maintain the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions. Norway’s cross‑country star Johannes Høsflot Klæbo welcomed the decision in a statement to Norwegian media, reiterating his long‑held view that Russians should not be allowed to compete while the war in Ukraine continues.

NRK commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt called the outcome a major surprise. He said that, judging by recent developments, he and many others believed FIS would reverse course. Saltvedt argued that FIS President Johan Eliasch had expended significant effort and influence to build a majority in favor of reinstating Russian participation, including, according to Saltvedt, circulating a letter to member federations without the Council’s backing to rally support for their return.

Among Norwegian stars, ski jumper Halvor Egner Granerud agreed with Klæbo’s stance, while expressing sympathy for athletes with no ties to the Russian military who would miss the Olympics. Granerud also noted that, judging from football’s handling of Israel’s participation, allowing Russians would have required substantially higher security measures, posing financial strain for many hosts.

FIS Council member from Sweden, Karin Mattsson, drew a distinction between Russia/Belarus and other conflict situations, pointing to how Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko have instrumentalized sport. As an example, she cited Russian cross‑country skier Veronika Stepanova, who, after the FIS decision, reiterated publicly that Putin is her president and that her country is always right—remarks Mattsson said illustrate why Russians remain excluded. Stepanova further suggested that, by the same logic, Israel and U.S. athletes who support Donald Trump should also be barred.

Russia’s head cross‑country coach Yuri Borodavko told the Russian outlet Championat that Russia had expected at least limited entries—one man and one woman—but claimed Norway led a hard line, threatening a boycott if Russians competed, and that Sweden, Finland and France joined this stance, including for the Olympics. He asserted this pressure forced FIS’s hand. However, Finnish FIS Council member Martti Uusitalo told Ilta‑Sanomat he had heard no such boycott threats in any forum.

The ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes was first introduced in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine. The issue resurfaced this autumn after the International Olympic Committee confirmed in September that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be eligible to compete as neutral athletes at the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Final participation decisions, however, rest with each international federation, and FIS has chosen to maintain its exclusion policy for now.