Havana, October 23 (RHC) – Moscow is disappointed with the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) decision to ban Russian athletes from qualifying for the 2026 Olympic Games, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today.
“We’re disappointed. As you know, the decision is made by an individual federation on the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). And, of course, we’re disappointed that this individual federation made that decision.”
Dmitri Peskov
The FIS Council decided to ban Russian athletes from participating in international competitions, including qualifying tournaments for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Italy, even as neutral athletes.
On February 28, 2022, four days after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, then-IOC President Thomas Bach recommended that international sports organizations ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions.
In December 2023, the IOC decided to allow Russian athletes to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with specific limitations, including without a flag or anthem, and without appearing on the medal table, conditions that Russia described as unacceptable discrimination.
Among the sports entities that opted to allow the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes are the World Taekwondo Federation, the International Table Tennis Federation, the International Wrestling Federation, the International Cycling Union, the International Federation of Rowing Societies, and the International Triathlon Union.
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will take place from February 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
