Athletes hailing from Russia and Belarus have been granted permission by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation to compete as approved neutral participants in the upcoming season. However, they are required to refrain from displaying any symbols of national identity, as stated by the federation on Wednesday. Participants from these countries must sign a declaration of neutrality based on specific principles set forth by the FIS to be eligible for entry into FIS competitions, with the possibility of facing sanctions for non-compliance.
In a ruling made in December by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Russian skiers successfully overturned a nearly four-year ban from international competitions that was imposed during the conflict in Ukraine. This decision enabled them to make a comeback to World Cup events in various skiing disciplines in their pursuit to qualify for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics scheduled for February.
The FIS ruling council has confirmed the continuation of its policy allowing neutral athletes to compete in the upcoming winter season, which commences next month. The participation of athletes is limited to individual events and is contingent upon the absence of any national symbols, including flags, anthems, or uniforms, during the competitions, according to FIS regulations.
Despite these allowances, Russian athletes and team officials may encounter difficulties in obtaining visas to enter certain European countries hosting World Cup races.