The key facts

  • The FIS Council on 3 November refused Bolshunov neutral status, NRK reports
  • The federation fears the athlete could successfully challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport
  • Earlier, Bolshunov was included in the preliminary list for the first stages of the 2026/2027 World Cup

Denial of neutral status

The Council of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has refused to grant Russian skier Alexander Bolshunov neutral status. This was reported by NRK; the matter was discussed at the Council meeting on 3 November, Gazeta.Ru writes. According to the source, the federation fears that Bolshunov could successfully challenge this verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Context and contradictions

On 1 November, information had already emerged that FIS did not intend to grant Bolshunov neutral status and suggested he wait until the next season. At the same time, the skier was included in the preliminary list of Russian athletes for the first two stages of the 2026/2027 World Cup in Ruka and Trondheim; the first stage in Finnish Ruka is scheduled for 27–29 November. Earlier, according to the publication, Norway denied reports of a protest against Bolshunov's neutral status. Thus, the final decision of the Council on 3 November differs from earlier reports of a proposal to wait until the next season, and judging by FIS's concerns, the question of admission may yet move into the legal arena.

The athlete's achievements

Bolshunov is a three-time Olympic champion; he also has four silver and two bronze Olympic medals to his name. He is a world champion in the skiathlon (2021), a two-time World Cup winner (2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons), and a two-time winner of the multi-stage Tour de Ski (2019/2020 and 2021).