Milan-Cortina: Russia wins CAS appeal on qualifications

Rome, 2 December (LaPresse) – 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 with individual neutral athlete (INA) status in the upcoming Milan-Cortina 2026 Games. Both CAS panels ruled that Russian and Belarusian athletes who meet the INA eligibility criteria of the International Olympic Committee should be allowed to participate in FIS qualifying 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 in FIS qualifying events for the 2026 Games’. Two appeals were lodged with the CAS against this decision, arguing that it violates the FIS statutes and the principles of political neutrality. The first appeal was filed by the Russian Ski Federation (RSF), 12 Russian athletes and para-athletes, and the Russian Paralympic Committee. The case was heard virtually on 1 December 2025. The second appeal was filed by the Belarusian Ski Federation (BSU) and five Belarusian athletes. The case was heard virtually on 26 November 2025. The proceedings were expedited to accommodate upcoming Games qualification events, with operational decisions issued today (without reasoning). 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 constitutes a generalised exclusion of athletes based on nationality, regardless of whether or not the athletes meet the AIN eligibility criteria. The request to allow Russian Paralympic athletes to participate in FIS events on the same terms as other Paralympic athletes was upheld in the absence of an AIN framework established by the International Paralympic Committee. Further requests made by the appellants in the RSF appeal to allow other Russian athletes, support personnel and officials to participate in upcoming competitions were rejected. The BSU’s requests on how to establish and apply the Ain criteria were also rejected, as they remain within the competence of the FIS.