The International Ski and Snowboard Federation announced on Wednesday that athletes from Russia and Belarus can compete as approved neutral participants this season, provided they do not display any national symbols. Competitors, coaches, and officials from these countries must sign a declaration of neutrality based on FIS guidelines to be eligible for FIS competitions, with potential sanctions for non-compliance.
Following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in December, Russian skiers were allowed to return to World Cup events in Alpine, cross-country, and freestyle skiing, as well as snowboarding, as they aim to qualify for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics in February. The FIS ruling council has reiterated its policy for neutral athletes for the upcoming winter season, emphasizing that participants cannot exhibit any national symbols like flags, anthems, or uniforms during events.
However, Russian athletes and team officials may still encounter visa challenges when traveling to certain European countries hosting World Cup races.