International Ski Federation Upholds Ban on Russian, Belarusian Skiers as New World Cup Season Begins

Ban instituted due to invasion of Ukraine persists, as the International Olympic Committee considers allowing athletes to participate as neutral entities without national symbols.

• The International Ski Federation (FIS) has sustained its ban on Russian and Belarusian skiers from participating in FIS events, as the new Alpine skiing World Cup season begins.
• The FIS policy has been upheld in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, and remains effective until further notice.
• The decision was communicated in an online council meeting of the federation and applies to both athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus.
• Despite the ban, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering permitting Russians and Belarusians to compete as neutral athletes without national symbols in the Summer Olympics in Paris next year.
• The IOC is yet to make a formal decision on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Olympics.

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