Athletes representing Russia and Belarus have been permitted to compete under a neutral status for the upcoming season, as announced by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) on Wednesday. The FIS stated that athletes, coaches, and officials from these countries can participate in FIS competitions if they agree to a declaration of neutrality based on FIS-established principles, with the possibility of sanctions for non-compliance.
Following a ruling in December by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Russian skiers were granted permission to participate in World Cup events in Alpine, cross-country, freestyle skiing, and snowboarding, aiming to qualify for the Milan Cortina Olympics scheduled for February. The FIS ruling council has confirmed the continuation of the neutral athlete policy for the upcoming winter season, which commences next month.
Under this policy, athletes are only allowed to participate in individual events and are prohibited from displaying any national symbols, including flags, anthems, or uniforms. Despite this decision, Russian athletes and team officials may encounter difficulties in obtaining visas to travel to certain European countries hosting World Cup races.
