SKIING - MILANO CORTINA 2026; CAS RULES ON RUSSIAN AND BELARUSIAN APPEALS CONCERNING INDIVIDUAL NEUTRAL ATHLETE STATUS
THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) RULES ON RUSSIAN AND BELARUSIAN APPEALS CONCERNING INDIVIDUAL NEUTRAL ATHLETE STATUS FOR THE UPCOMING WINTER GAMES
Lausanne, 2 December 2025 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has partially upheld two appeals against the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) concerning the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 (OWG 2026). Both CAS Panels ruled that Russian and Belarusian athletes who meet the International Olympic Committee AIN eligibility criteria should be allowed to participate in FIS qualification events.
On 21 October 2025, the FIS Council issued a resolution “not to facilitate the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) in FIS qualification events for the OWG and Paralympic Games 2026”. Two appeals were filed to CAS against this decision, arguing that it is in breach of FIS statutes and contravenes the principles of political neutrality and non-discrimination.
The first appeal is by the Russian Ski Association (RSF), 12 Russian athletes and para-athletes, and the Russian Paralympic Committee. This case was heard virtually on 1 December 2025. The second appeal is by the Belarusian Ski Union (BSU) and 5 Belarusian athletes. This case was heard virtually on 26 November 2025. The procedures were expedited to accommodate upcoming OWG 2026 qualification events, with operative decisions issued today (without grounds).
Both Panels found that the FIS Statutes protect individuals from discrimination and require the FIS to be politically neutral (Art. 5.2). Consequently, the appeals were partially upheld on the basis that the FIS decision is a blanket exclusion of athletes due to nationality, regardless of whether athletes would meet AIN eligibility criteria.
The request to allow Russian para-athletes to participate in FIS events under the same conditions as other para-athletes was upheld in the absence of an AIN framework established by the International Paralympic Committee. Further requests by the appellants in the RSF appeal to allow other athletes, support personnel and officials from Russia to participate in upcoming competitions were dismissed.
Requests by the BSU on how to establish and apply AIN criteria were also dismissed, as they remain under FIS remit.
This is an unofficial summary for media use.
The athletes involved in the RSF appeal were Mr Saveliy Korostelev, Ms Lana Prusakova, Ms Maria Travinicheva, Mr Artiom Galunin, Ms Ekaterina Tkachenko, Mr Daniil Sadreev, and the para-athletes Mr Alexey Bugaev, Ms Varvara Voronchikhina, Ms Anastasiia Bagagiin, Mr Ivan Golubkov, Ms Polina Novakovskya, and Mr Mikhail Slinkin. The athletes involved in the BSU appeal were Ms Hanna Huskova, Ms Anna Derugo, Ms Anastasiya Andryianava, Mr Ihar Drabiankou and Mr Uladzislau Vazniuk.
For further information related to CAS activity and procedures, please contact either Matthieu Reeb, CAS Director General, or Vanessa Tracey, Communications Officer. Palais de Beaulieu, av. Bergières 10, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland.
