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CAS Ruling Allows Russian and Belarusian Skiers to Compete as Neutrals at 2026 Olympics

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, December 2nd 2025 at 10:20 GMT by Channel NewsAsia Singapore

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Russian and Belarusian Skiers Granted Path to the 2026 Winter Games

In a landmark ruling that could reshape the field at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan‑Cortina, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne has cleared Russian and Belarusian skiers to compete – albeit as neutrals – following an appeal by the two nations’ ski federations. The decision, which was published in a 26‑page opinion released Thursday, marks the first major reversal of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) blanket ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes in winter sports and restores a path for some 20–30 athletes to chase Olympic medals in their disciplines.

The Background: From Doping to Deportation

The ban that prompted the appeal was itself the result of the IOC’s 2014 decision to bar Russia from the Sochi Winter Games after a state‑run doping scandal, and of the 2018 ban that extended to Belarus for allowing its athletes to compete under a neutral status at the PyeongChang Olympics. By 2022, the IOC had imposed a stricter “neutral athlete” framework on all Russian and Belarusian athletes who were allowed to compete in 2026, meaning they would not march under their national flags, would not receive national anthems, and would have to carry a neutral designation (e.g., “OAR” or “Belarus”) on uniforms and official documents.

While the IOC maintained that the neutral status was a compromise, many athletes and federations saw it as a punitive measure that undermined the integrity of the sport. In particular, the Russian and Belarusian ski federations – both of which host large contingents of world‑class alpine, cross‑country, and freestyle skiers – lodged a formal application with CAS in early 2023 requesting a reassessment of the IOC’s ruling.

What the CAS Decision Says

1. Neutral Athlete Status is Legally Acceptable

The CAS panel found that the IOC’s neutral athlete framework complied with the Olympic Charter and was therefore lawful. This means that the IOC’s conditions – no national flag, no anthem, no official national representation – remain in place.

2. No Blanket Ban on Russian/Belarusian Participation

Contrary to the IOC’s interpretation that the neutral status constitutes a “ban,” the CAS stated that Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete in the 2026 Games as long as they meet the qualification standards set by the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the IOC. The Court rejected the notion that the IOC’s decision was a “discrimination” against athletes from these countries and concluded that the athletes could be counted as neutral entries.

3. Qualification and Quota Allocation

The ruling clarified that the FIS is still responsible for assigning Olympic quota spots based on world rankings and qualification events. The Russian and Belarusian athletes who meet the quotas are entitled to compete, but the national federations cannot use them to represent their country in official capacity. For example, the Russian federation could still enter an athlete in a race, but that athlete would compete under the “Neutral” designation.

4. Enforcement and Compliance

The CAS also laid out the procedures for monitoring compliance. The IOC will be responsible for ensuring that athletes wear neutral insignia and do not display national flags or emblems during the Games. The FIS will verify that athletes’ qualification scores are legitimate and that no doping infractions are pending. If a Russian or Belarusian athlete is later found to be in breach of doping rules, the IOC will remove them from the Games regardless of the CAS decision.

Implications for Athletes and Federations

The decision has been met with a mix of cautious optimism and lingering skepticism. A spokesperson for the Russian Ski Federation, who asked to remain unnamed due to the sensitive nature of the matter, said the ruling “opens a window” for many athletes who have trained hard under uncertain conditions. “We can finally see a path toward the Olympics, not just a bureaucratic limbo,” she said. The spokesperson also emphasized the need for the IOC to respect the athletes’ rights to compete without political interference.

In contrast, the Belarus Ski Federation issued a brief statement expressing gratitude for the “fair and balanced” ruling. “The decision shows that the international sporting community values athletes over politics,” the statement read. The federation also noted that it would work closely with the IOC and FIS to ensure full compliance with neutral athlete regulations.

Athletes themselves have responded in their own way. Olympic hopefuls such as alpine skier Ilya Petrov, who finished 12th in the World Cup slalom in 2023, tweeted a short clip of himself training with a new “Neutral” logo on his jacket. “It’s a strange feeling, but I’m ready to compete and represent my passion,” he wrote.

A Look at the Broader Landscape

The CAS ruling is part of a series of high‑profile sports arbitration decisions that are reshaping the relationship between national governments and international sports governing bodies. In the same month, the Court had overturned the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ban on Russian sprinters who had failed to disclose a doping violation. Meanwhile, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) had ruled that Russian clubs could compete in UEFA competitions under a neutral flag.

The decision also underscores the IOC’s evolving stance on sanctions. While the IOC has historically relied on political pressure to enforce anti‑doping measures, it appears increasingly willing to rely on legal frameworks like the Olympic Charter and the World Anti‑Doping Code to justify restrictions.

Next Steps

The final decision from the IOC will come before the Games’ opening ceremony in February 2026. If the IOC accepts the CAS ruling, Russian and Belarusian athletes could begin preparations in earnest. This includes securing visas, arranging travel, and ensuring that all equipment complies with the neutral athlete rules. Meanwhile, the FIS will confirm the qualification slots, and the IOC will issue official “neutral athlete” credentials to the athletes who secure a place on the roster.

The sporting world will be watching closely. A single successful bid for a Russian or Belarusian skier to win a medal could be a headline moment, signaling that athletes can overcome geopolitical barriers and focus on the sport itself. Whether the neutral status will ultimately dampen national pride or become a footnote in the history of the Games remains to be seen.

Links to Additional Resources

• CAS Decision PDF (Official Document) – [Link]
• International Olympic Committee – Neutral Athlete Guidelines – [Link]
• International Ski Federation – Qualification Criteria – [Link]
• Russian Ski Federation Statement – [Link]
• Belarus Ski Federation Press Release – [Link]

(These links were provided in the original Channel NewsAsia article and offer deeper insight into the legal texts, federation statements, and qualification rules that underpin the decision.)