Russian coach at centre of Tour de Ski confusion — car and parking permit now under scrutiny

The ongoing Tour de Ski has been stirred by the presence of Russian coach Yegor Sorin.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the International Ski Federation (FIS) blanket ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes in early December. That ruling meant FIS had to permit access to the World Cup for athletes who meet neutral-athlete criteria. So far FIS has granted that neutral status to Russian skiers Saveli Korosteljov and Darja Neprjajeva, who are both competing on the Tour de Ski.

FIS’s published list also includes four Russian support personnel who have been approved to access accredited World Cup areas for roles such as service and waxing. Sorin, however, has not been granted neutral status and is not allowed access to accredited zones at the Tour de Ski. He coaches, among others, Korosteljov and Aleksandr Bolšunov.

Swedish paper Expressen first reported the story after interviewing Sorin in a restaurant at the Toblach venue. Sorin admitted he coaches Korosteljov but insisted he was at the Tour only as a spectator and that he understood where he was permitted to be.

“I am just outside the competition area. I’m just a spectator because I don’t have neutral status and I don’t get any accreditation,” he told Expressen. He said he had applied for neutral status and was waiting on a FIS decision. He declined to comment on political questions but said he had to accept the rules.

When asked about the reception he received, Sorin said people greeted him and there were no problems. Expressen also reported that Ukrainian skier Andrei Dotsenko was upset that Russians were allowed to take part. According to Sorin, a Ukrainian coach asked why he was at the Tour and began filming him; Sorin said he was parked outside practice areas and not on a competition zone and encouraged reporters to ask the Ukrainian side why they were filming.

FIS World Cup coordinator Doris Kallen told Expressen that FIS cannot police who is in the stands, but she declined to comment when asked whether it was acceptable for Sorin to coach Russian athletes before and after races at the venue.

Parking permit revoked

Aftonbladet then reported that FIS had had to intervene. Sorin had driven athletes in a vehicle bearing a FIS-issued parking permit intended for neutral athletes. FIS told the Swedish paper it had revoked that parking permit.

“We have dealt with the matter,” FIS competition director Michal Lamplot told the Swedish press.

Sorin’s presence has generated particular attention in Nordic media, even though organisers have attempted to downplay Russian involvement: the Helsingin Sanomat noted at the Tour opening that there were no service cabins marked for Russians and no Russian names or results were announced at Toblach’s stadium as for other delegations. Neprjajeva has not given interviews like Korosteljov, but a FIS representative has monitored her interviews.

Korosteljov, 22, told Expressen he was pleased to be allowed to race at the Tour and prepare for the Olympics. “I hope as many as possible can get neutral status like me. Maybe already after the Tour de Ski,” he said. During the Tour he has not answered questions about the war in Ukraine.

Sorin’s frustration with Nordic countries

In November Russians trained in Livigno at the same time as Norwegians. At that time FIS’s full ban on Russian skiers was still in force. Sorin accused mainly Norwegian and Swedish athletes of politicising and pressuring the issue. He also criticised Johannes Høsflot Klæbo for saying he was glad the ban remained in place, arguing that many young athletes who see Klæbo as a role model had thereby been prevented from getting to the Olympics.