We would have allowed it: FIS changed the rules for the return of Russians to international competitions

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has allowed Russians to compete under its auspices in a neutral status since the 2026/27 season. According to Mikhail Degtyarev, the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Olympic Committee of the country, the organization canceled individual checks of athletes. This will simplify the application process of our athletes for tournaments, which previously caused certain difficulties, especially in cross-country skiing. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

The first step

The decision to admit neutrals from Russia under a simplified procedure was made by the FIS council on September 1 at a meeting in Thun, Switzerland, the international federation said in a statement. It applies not only to cross-country skiing, but also to skiing, ski jumping, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding and freeride. Support staff will also be able to access the competition.

To participate, Russians and Belarusians now only need to sign a declaration of neutrality. They will not be able to compete in team disciplines, relay races, use the flag, anthem and uniforms of the national teams yet. In addition, all the increased anti-doping requirements remain in place. And sanctions are provided for non-compliance with the criteria of neutrality.

Cold question: when will Russia be allowed to participate in winter sports

The results of the elections in the international federations will show how close the return of the flag and anthem is.

The boss of Russian sports, Mikhail Degtyarev, commenting on the decision, separately stressed: "Inspections have been canceled." We are talking about abandoning the previous strict procedure for the individual evaluation of each candidate. During the Olympic season, the applications of our athletes were reviewed by a special FIS commission, allegedly based on the opinions of independent experts. They analyzed the athletes' possible connections with law enforcement agencies, their public statements and activity on social networks.

It is noteworthy that the decision on admission was made less than three months after the change of leadership of the international federation. On June 11, Alexander Ospelt, a lawyer from Liechtenstein, became its president. According to Degtyarev, the new head of the organization is "determined to work constructively."

Dmitry Svishchev, head of the Russian Ski and Snowboard Federation (FLSSR), called the admission of Russians the first step towards a full-fledged return.

— Now we have an official document, and we are starting the procedure for the return of our athletes to the international arena. It is very important. Yes, it didn't work out right away. Unfortunately, we will not be able to fully participate in the competitions with the flag and anthem. But, it seems to me, this is the first step to a full—fledged return," the head of the FLSSR told RBC Sport.

Sergei Kryanin, a member of the Presidium of the FLSSR, holds a similar position. At the same time, he noted that the next stage would be for athletes to receive neutral status directly.

"We've been waiting for this decision every minute,— Kryanin told Izvestia. — The first step towards the final admission has already been made. That's great, but there's still a lot of work to be done. The issue of neutral statuses is already the next step. I think the association will organize this process. Let's see who gets in.

Our athletes also reacted positively to this news. For example, two-time Olympic snowboarding champion Vic Wild declared his readiness to resume his career after the FIS decision.

"Under favorable circumstances, I would be ready to compete," Wild explained to Izvestia. — But no one from the Ministry of Sports or the Snowboard Federation contacted me.

Only three

Recall that Russian and Belarusian athletes were suspended from FIS competitions on March 1, 2022. The ban on participation was repeatedly extended, and the situation was changed only by the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which in December 2025 recognized that total suspension on the basis of nationality was contrary to the statute of the international federation, and demanded that athletes eligible for the criteria be given a path to qualifying tournaments.

After that, the FIS introduced an individual verification procedure. Candidates for participation in the competition were required to confirm their compliance with the criteria of neutrality, fulfill the anti-doping conditions and independently pay for the examination of the application.

"Bolshunov can learn from my stress tolerance"

Skier Savely Korostelev — about rivalry with the three-time Olympic champion, participation in the Games, Internet memes and female fans

As a result, only Savely Korostelev, Daria Nepryaeva and Nikita Denisov received neutral status in ski racing. Korostelev and Nepryaeva have competed at the World Cup since December, qualified and participated in the 2026 Olympics. Denisov was admitted only on January 19, and he has not yet managed to compete in international competitions.

Russian alpine skiers Semyon Efimov and Yulia Pleshkova also took part in the Games. The rest either failed to qualify due to strict deadlines and visa barriers, or were denied neutral status. In some cases, the refusal was explained by anti-doping issues. But in the case of Alexander Bolshunov, the situation was different. In December 2025, the FIS commission rejected the application of the three-time Olympic champion due to non-compliance with the criteria of strict neutrality, without disclosing specific grounds. The skier tried to challenge the decision before the Olympics, but to no avail.

One of the likely reasons for Alexander's refusal is his connection with law enforcement agencies. Although there has been no official confirmation that Bolshunov is still an active officer for more than three years. The new admission procedure gives the decorated skier a chance to return. Although, as the experience of figure skaters who are now applying for international competitions according to the same scheme shows, there may be nuances and it's too early to be very happy.

The opposition of the Scandinavian national teams to the performance of Russians in any status is still very strong, visa problems have not gone away. And it will take a lot of effort to participate in the World Cup.