The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has made a definitive decision, voting to exclude athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in qualification events for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, despite a pathway for neutral athletes outlined by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The highly anticipated decision from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) council has arrived, effectively shutting down the route for athletes from Russia and Belarus to qualify for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the governing body announced its vote against allowing these athletes to compete in qualification events, even as “Individual Neutral Athletes” (AINs).
This ruling carries significant weight, impacting a vast array of disciplines under FIS’s umbrella. These include alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, and snowboarding. Collectively, these sports represent a substantial portion of the Winter Games, accounting for 57 of the record 116 medal events scheduled for Milan-Cortina.
The IOC’s Neutral Athlete Framework and FIS’s Stance
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had previously established an “AIN regime” as a potential pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in both the 2024 Paris Games and the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. However, the IOC’s framework explicitly grants each international federation the autonomy to decide whether to integrate these athletes into their existing qualification systems.
For FIS, this autonomy has led to a firm stance. The federation, along with most other winter Olympic sport federations, has maintained a ban on athletes from Russia and Belarus from international competition since March 2022. This widespread exclusion was implemented shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, an invasion that utilized Belarus as a staging ground.
A Repeat of 2022: The Road to Exclusion
The current decision by FIS echoes a similar episode from early 2022. Initially, one day after the invasion, FIS declared that Russian skiers could continue to compete, albeit without their national flag or anthem. However, this policy was short-lived. Following a strong backlash and a pledge from nations like Norway to bar Russian athletes from competitions they were hosting, FIS swiftly reversed course, leading to a comprehensive exclusion of Russian skiers, as reported by the Associated Press.
This historical context highlights the significant political and logistical pressures influencing international sports federations. Allowing Russians to compete as neutral athletes could have caused considerable friction between FIS and its primarily northern European World Cup host countries, many of whom have been staunch critics of Russia’s actions.
A Fragmented Landscape: How Other Sports are Responding
The landscape of Russian and Belarusian athlete participation in international sports remains highly fragmented, with different federations adopting varying approaches. While FIS has upheld its ban, two other winter Olympic sports federations have taken a different path:
- The International Skating Union (ISU) lifted its ban, allowing some athletes to compete in individual neutral capacities.
- The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF), a newer Olympic sport, also opened its doors.
As a result of these differing policies, some athletes have already secured potential qualification spots for Milan-Cortina. Last month, two Russian figure skaters and one from Belarus qualified as neutrals, with more expected to follow in speed skating, as noted by the Associated Press. Additionally, one Russian athlete has qualified a spot in ski mountaineering, marking the sole confirmed neutral athlete in a snow sport outside of FIS disciplines.
Conversely, other prominent winter sports, such as hockey and biathlon, have maintained their bans. In a recent development, the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) saw its appeals tribunal partially overturn a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes imposed in 2022. The tribunal’s ruling dictates that the IBSF must allow athletes who meet the IOC’s regulations for neutral status, prompting the IBSF to hold further discussions on its next steps, particularly as World Cup events and Olympic qualification points begin next month.
Impact on the Milan-Cortina Games
The FIS decision has profound implications for the overall composition of the 2026 Winter Olympics. FIS is the largest of the nine international sports federations overseeing events on the Olympic program, with its disciplines accounting for nearly half of the total medals awarded in Milan-Cortina. Without Russian and Belarusian representation in ski and snowboard events, the number of “neutral athletes” at the Games could potentially drop into single figures.
This is a stark contrast to the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where 206 athletes competed for the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) – unable to use their national name, flag, or anthem due to past doping violations – and 24 for Belarus. Historically, Russia has been a dominant force in several winter sports. At the 2022 Games, Russian athletes clinched a leading 11 medals in cross-country skiing, including four golds, with Aleksander Bolshunov alone securing three. They are also strong contenders and repeat medal-winners in disciplines like snowboard slalom, ski jumping, and freestyle skiing, despite not being a major power in the marquee alpine skiing events.
The national ski association of Russia has voiced “deep disappointment” over the FIS council’s vote, labeling it discriminatory. They have stated their intent to “actively pursue all available avenues to ensure that athletes are not penalized for political circumstances beyond their control, including through legal action.”
The Broader Debate: Politics, Fairness, and the Future of Neutrality
The FIS decision reignites the persistent debate within the fan community and broader sports world regarding the intersection of politics and sport. On one side, many argue that individual athletes should not be held accountable for the actions of their governments, particularly those who may not support the conflict. They advocate for a clear distinction, emphasizing the principle of fair competition based purely on athletic merit.
On the other side, a strong contingent believes that allowing athletes from aggressor nations, even under a neutral banner, legitimizes the state and undermines the spirit of sportsmanship. They contend that in times of war, “sport is not outside politics” and that solidarity with affected nations and athletes should take precedence. The inconsistent application of bans across different federations further complicates this ethical tightrope walk, raising questions about fairness and creating an uneven playing field where some athletes are afforded opportunities denied to others from the same nationality.
Ultimately, FIS’s reaffirmation of its ban reflects the immense pressure and complex ethical considerations facing international sports bodies. As the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics draw closer, the absence of prominent Russian and Belarusian competitors in crucial snow events will undoubtedly alter the competitive landscape and continue to fuel discussions about the future of neutrality in global sports.
