The International Ski Federation (FIS) has opened the door for Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to competitions held under its authority, but only as neutral athletes barred from representing their countries. The federation will not allow them to compete under national flags, use their anthems or display other state symbols.
Athletes seeking to return must also meet anti-doping requirements and sign a neutrality declaration drawn up according to FIS rules. The decision covers not just ski jumping but every discipline under the federation's umbrella, including cross-country skiing and alpine skiing.
Polish federation reacts
The ruling has not been welcomed in Poland. Rafał Kot, a board member of the Polish Ski Association (Polski Związek Narciarski), told WP SportoweFakty that nothing had changed to justify lifting the existing sanctions.
Kot said it was worth first asking what had changed since Russian athletes were banned, and whether the war had ended. In his view, he said, the war had simply become less prominent in the media.
Kot said his comments reflected the unified position of the Polish Ski Association's leadership, not just his own opinion. He said the federation did not want to attach any particular label to the FIS decision but considered it completely irrational. He added that the federation opposed the return of Russian athletes to competition and that its position would not change.
Visa hurdle in Poland
Kot was most direct when discussing the prospect of Russian athletes competing at events held in Poland. He noted that FIS clearance alone would not guarantee an athlete could take part in every competition, since entry into the host country would still be required.
Kot said he believed Russian athletes would not be let into Poland, adding that, as far as he knew, the relevant government ministry agreed with the federation's stance. He said that if Russian athletes were refused visas, they would not be able to enter the country and therefore could not compete.
Russia's response
The FIS decision had already stirred debate on the Russian side before Kot's remarks. Mikhail Degtyaryov, Russia's minister of sport and head of the Russian Olympic Committee, addressed the neutrality declaration that athletes would be required to sign.
Degtyaryov said Russia would not accept a situation in which access to competition depended on condemning the actions of the Russian military. Cited by the Russian state news agency TASS, he said attempts had been made to force Russian athletes to sign documents condemning their country and its armed forces, and that this would not be allowed.
FIS oversees a range of winter sports disciplines including ski jumping, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and Nordic combined. Russian and Belarusian athletes have been excluded from FIS competitions since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
