Several Russians have been given the go-ahead by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to compete as neutral athletes next season.
But the decision is not welcomed by the Swedish Ski Association.
Since it has been decided, we must comply with it, but it is not a decision we think is good, says Secretary General Pernilla Bonde.
In an interview with SVT, Bonde revealed that the federation, with the help of the Swedish Sports Confederation (RF), is trying to get the government to deny Russian skiers visas ahead of the World Championships in Falun at the turn of February and March.
We have raised the issue with the RF. And perhaps you can raise the issue with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and look at which countries are allowed to travel into the country, says Bonde.
Last season, two Russian skiers were able to compete internationally again, including Saveliy Korostelev, who came fourth in the skiathlon at the Olympics. A total of 13 Russian skiers have been given the green light by FIS for the upcoming season, Expressen reports.
FIS is also allowing Belarusian skiers, who have also previously been banned from international competition. According to Expressen, the Swedish Ski Association also wants them to be denied visas.
Several international sports federations have recently eased the restrictions imposed on Russian athletes after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This was evident, for example, at the European Table Tennis Championships in Ljubljana last week, when several Russian players competed under a neutral flag. However, only Russians who normally play in the French or Italian leagues took part in the tournament. Other Russian players were denied visas by the Slovenian government.
