Milan Cortina 2026, Russian skiers toward flagless participation

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has annulled the total exclusion of Russian and Belarusian skiers from international competitions, paving the way for their presence under a neutral flag at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina (Feb. 6-22).

If they meet the criteria set by the IOC to access neutral status, athletes from both countries “should be allowed to participate in the International Ski Federation” qualifying events for the upcoming Winter Games, the TAS explained in a statement.

The court also partially upheld two appeals against the International Ski and Snowboard Federation regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes with the status of “individual neutral athlete” at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Both Tas panels ruled that Russian and Belarusian athletes who meet International Olympic Committee eligibility criteria should be allowed to participate in FIS qualifying events.