Russian skiers cleared for Olympic return — Finland coach Teemu Pasanen fears cuts to Finnish quota

Finland’s head cross-country coach Teemu Pasanen says he is concerned that Finland’s and other top nations’ Olympic quotas could be cut to accommodate the return of Russian skiers. Finland currently has seven men’s and eight women’s places, and men’s selection is already expected to be the toughest in years, meaning strong athletes may miss Milan–Cortina 2026.

The concern follows a rapid ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Although the hearing on Russian participation only took place on Monday, 1 December, the decision was issued the next day. Sports lawyer and CAS arbitrator Olli Rauste was not surprised, noting that so‑called operational decisions are often delivered quickly, with fuller written reasoning published weeks later. In this case, a three‑member CAS panel—one arbitrator nominated by the Russian Ski Federation, one by FIS, and a chair appointed by CAS—found that FIS rules do not allow excluding athletes purely on the basis of nationality.

FIS’s Council had voted in October to continue the international ban on Russians, but the Russian Ski Federation appealed to CAS. CAS’s ruling grants neutral-status Russian athletes immediate access to FIS competitions and, by extension, the Olympic courses in February 2026.

However, the Olympic cross-country quota of 288 athletes (144 per gender) is already effectively filled, and Russia currently holds no places. Pasanen questions from where and on what criteria Olympic slots for Russia would be carved out, pointing out that Russia has accrued no Nations Ranking points in recent years. If the announced quota is maintained, some countries would have to lose places. He remarks it would be “interesting” if, for example, Norway were told its men’s quota drops to six.

FIS Council member Martti Uusitalo told Yle that Russia might receive one women’s and one men’s place under a neutral flag, and that these would not involve Russia’s most prominent stars, who are not on the list of athletes eligible for neutral status due to their backgrounds.

Rauste sees the broader trend moving in Russia’s favor. He notes CAS recently overturned the international ban on Russian lugers, which he believes foreshadows outcomes in similar disputes. He also suggests IOC leadership dynamics could tilt toward reintegration: new IOC President Kirsty Coventry is from Zimbabwe, and many regions view the Ukraine war as distant and question why this particular conflict has triggered bans when other wars have not. Europeans, he says, see the matter differently.

The Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics will be broadcast on Yle’s channels 6–22 February 2026.