The key facts
- FIS has granted neutral status to 12 more Russian skiers, bringing the total to 57
- On September 22, the federation removed the rule that blocked the clearance of athletes from structures linked to security services
- Athletes may compete only in individual disciplines, without a flag, anthem, or symbols
The list of cleared athletes has grown to 57 people
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has granted individual neutral status to 12 more Russian skiers — they will be able to compete at international events of the 2026/27 season. The updated list has been published on the federation's resources, Life.ru reports on the expansion of the list. The status was granted to Ekaterina Bulycheva, Ulyana Lebedeva, Natalia Kramarenko, Anna Sergeeva, Ivan Bezmaternykh, Gleb Belyaev, Arseny Vlasov, Andrey Zarodov, Pavel Kozadaev, Egor Rudy, as well as Dmitry and Viktor Zhul. With the new decisions, the total number of Russian skiers with neutral status has reached 57.
What has changed in the eligibility rules
The expansion of the list continues September's changes: on September 22, FIS adjusted the rules for obtaining neutral status and removed a provision that had prevented the clearance of athletes from structures linked to the armed forces and security agencies. The conditions for competing remain unchanged: Russians are admitted only in individual disciplines — without the national flag, anthem, or symbols.
The status does not guarantee a trip to the World Championship
Even the neutral status already granted does not guarantee participation in the 2027 World Championship in Sweden: athletes risk facing visa restrictions. According to Life.ru, FIS warned that the decision on entry rests with the host country and the federation will not be able to influence a possible refusal. Against this backdrop, the Swedish authorities, as the outlet notes, have appealed to the European Commission with a call to tighten visa rules in order to limit the participation of Russians and Belarusians in competitions. Thus, the question of Russians' participation in tournaments in Sweden remains open and depends on decisions that lie outside FIS's purview.
