The Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, made the decision on Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian skiers are allowed to compete in the World Cup as neutral athletes.
This gives them the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics in Milano-Cortina in February.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (Fis) has ruled that the CAS decision means that the Russians and Belarusians will be allowed to compete in the federation's sanctioned competitions. This weekend it is time for the World Cup in cross-country in Trondheim. But before the previously suspended skiers are given the go-ahead to compete, they must be approved by Fis.
Create list
FIS writes in a press release that the federation will compile a list of which skiers will be granted neutral status. It is not clear how long that process may take.
Russian national team coach Egor Sorin tells Norwegian TV2:
It is possible that we will compete in Trondheim. We will arrive by helicopter.
Swedish star Linn Svahn, who has been selected to compete in Trondheim, has previously said that she might consider boycotting the Olympics if Russians and Belarusians are allowed to compete under a neutral flag.
Hans von Uthman, chairman of the Swedish Olympic Committee, does not see a boycott as the way forward.
No boycott currently in place
We will not boycott. Then there are individual Swedish activists who have said that they do not want to face Russian athletes in the Olympics. We will of course give them full support, but we think that Swedish athletes should compete in the Olympics. It is Russians and Belarusians who should be stopped.
National team star William Poromaa doesn't like Cas's decision.
I think it's problematic that there should be so many rounds on this issue. You think a decision has been made, that you feel calm – but then suddenly there is another round. It becomes difficult as an athlete to speak out. Does this apply now? Or could there be a new decision in a month? You don't know, he tells Expressen .
I've had the same opinion on this issue all along. That's why this feels sad, the situation is the same as it's been all along. I think it's damn dangerous to change your mind over time, if you start to let go of a decision just because time has passed.
Poromaa on how he views competing against Russians:
"I have nothing against the Russian skaters as people. It's always fun to compete against them, they've always been nice. It's the whole issue that's special," he tells Expressen.
Henrik Skiöld/TT
Facts: Requirements to compete as a neutral
TT
The International Olympic Committee, IOC, sets the following requirements to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Olympics under a neutral flag:
+ Athletes who actively support the war against Ukraine are not allowed to participate.
+ Athletes who have contracts with the Russian or Belarusian military or with national security agencies are not allowed to participate.
+ All anti-doping requirements that apply before and during the Olympics in Milano-Cortina must be met
Russian and Belarusian skiers have been excluded from international competition since Russia started its war of invasion in Ukraine in 2022.
