Russian skaters allowed to compete as neutrals in 2026 Winter Olympics

Russians will be able to qualify for the ice skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics as neutral athletes, the sport’s governing body says.

The International Skating Union (ISU) announced “a pathway to allow a limited number of individual neutral athletes (AIN) to participate under strict conditions in designated Olympic qualifying events for the 2025/26 season.”

The decision applies to figure skating and speed skating disciplines, the ISU says.

“Recognizing that competing in the Olympic Winter Games is the pinnacle of any skater’s career, the ISU has carefully examined the feasibility of implementing the IOC’s recommendations on creating a pathway to facilitate the participation of athletes affiliated with ISU Members in Russia and Belarus in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026,” the ISU said.

Just 15 Russian athletes were permitted to take part in the Paris Olympics this summer, competing as neutrals.

At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Russian athletes had to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) flag due to a two-year ban imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency for state-sponsored doping.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine days after those Olympics, triggering sanctions from the IOC.

Russia’s Sports Minister and head of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev welcomed the ISU decision.

“The process of a full return to international sport will be difficult, but events such as the ISU decision… are important steps on this path,” Degtyarev is quoted as saying by the Ria Novosti news agency.

“This is better than a permanent break and isolation. We will continue to develop this pathway.”