The return of Russian and Belarusian athletes is not imminent. The FIS and the IBU have confirmed that the two federations and their athletes cannot participate in international competitions.
The subject was not even brought up. As the start of the season approaches for winter sports, Russia and Belarus remain suspended from all FIS and IBU competitions this season. In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the two world federations immediately banned athletes from these two countries from competing on the various circuits. It was March 2022.
“Why would they need Bolshunov? »
Since March 2022, the position of the authorities has not changed. During the recent congresses in Zurich (FIS) and Belgrade (IBU), the Russian and Belarusian cases were not the subject of any discussion. “We have simply been informed that the suspension of Russia and Belarus has been extended and that their teams are not authorized to participate in FIS competitions this season,” Lars Öberg, head of Swedish skiing, recently told the media. The Express.
The reactions in Russia were not long in coming. Former Olympic skating champion and member of the Duma, the Russian assembly, Svetlana Zhurova declared that: “They are not interested in our return because we will get more medals. It’s unlikely anyone would want us back. Why would they need Bolshunov, who will take away medals from them? »
A Russian and Belarusian presence in Milan compromised
At Paris 2024, the IOC left a door open to Russia and Belarus and around thirty of their athletes went to France, under a neutral banner. For Milan – Cortina 2026, such a system has not yet been mentioned and the chances of seeing Russian ski leaders in Italy are currently very low. For the JOP which had just ended, the entry conditions for these two countries were very strict, too much for the taste of Minsk and Moscow. For the moment, these athletes are racing exclusively within their borders and change is not coming yet.
