The International Ski and Snowboard Federation has announced new conditions that could allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to FIS competitions during the 2026-27 season.
The decision was made during a two-day FIS Council meeting in Thun, Switzerland, where officials reviewed the status of athletes and support personnel from the two countries following recent developments involving the International Olympic Committee.
Under the new policy, athletes from Russia and Belarus may be granted access to FIS competitions if they agree to compete under strict neutrality requirements established by the international governing body.
Athletes Must Meet Strict Neutrality Requirements
According to FIS, eligible athletes and support personnel will be required to sign a declaration of neutrality based on a specific set of principles established by the federation. Compliance with those principles will be continuously monitored, and FIS said sanctions could be imposed if an athlete or member of their support team violates the requirements.
The policy limits participation to individual events, meaning athletes would not be permitted to compete as representatives of Russia or Belarus in team competitions. FIS also said that national symbols will not be permitted. Flags, anthems, and uniforms representing either country cannot be displayed during competition. Athletes seeking to compete must also continue to meet all existing anti-doping requirements.
Decision Follows Recent IOC Developments
The FIS Council’s decision comes after recent action by the International Olympic Committee concerning recommendations related to Russian athletes and international sports federations. Russian and Belarusian athletes have faced restrictions across international competition in recent years, and the new FIS policy creates a potential pathway for some competitors to return to the world stage under neutral status.
The move could have implications across a wide range of FIS disciplines, including alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding, and other international competitions. FIS said its Council meeting was scheduled to continue on Wednesday, September 2nd, with further decisions potentially coming from the gathering in Switzerland.
The organization has not indicated that Russian or Belarusian national teams will return to FIS competition, with the new policy focused specifically on individual athletes and support personnel who comply with the federation’s neutrality requirements.