The Russian Bobsleigh Federation announced Ukraine's obstruction of Russia's admission to the Olympic Games-2026

Representatives of Ukraine at the Congress of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) in Milan proposed to make a decision excluding the participation of Russian athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics. This was announced on September 12 in the organization's Telegram channel.

"On September 12, 2025, during the Congress of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), the 15th item on the agenda was considered - the issue of admission of Russian athletes to competitions under a neutral status," the message says.

During the presentation, the Ukrainian side criticized many aspects, including military service, places of work, social media activity, and training camps in Crimea. The document also mentioned the names of coaches and athletes, many of whom have either retired or are not working in the sports system.

In turn, the Russian delegation pointed out the contradiction between the IBSF strategy aimed at expanding the number of bobsleigh and skeleton athletes and the decision to exclude Russia, which is the second largest country in the world in these sports. She also noted that the issue was not about recognizing or condemning the federation's work, but solely about granting Russian athletes the right to apply for neutral status. Each case could be considered individually by the IBSF.

Despite the arguments of the Russian side, the Congress rejected the proposal by a majority vote, denying athletes from Russia the right to apply for neutral status.

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