The Court of Arbitration for Sport -CAS- has issued two decisions concerning the participation of Russian athletes at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. An appeal filed by the Russian Luge Federation -RLF- and six athletes was partially upheld, while another submitted by speed skater Daria Kachanova was dismissed.
The case brought by the Russian Luge Federation and athletes Aleksandr Gorbatsevich, Sofiia Mazur, Andrei Bogdanov, Iurii Prokhorov, Ekaterina Fomina and Polina Grigore was directed against the International Luge Federation -FIL-. During its 73rd Congress, held on 18 June 2025, the FIL decided to maintain the suspension of Russian athletes, coaches and officials, citing safety concerns at competitions.
CAS allows the participation of neutral athletes
The appeal, filed on 8 July 2025, sought to overturn that decision and to allow immediate participation in international events and Olympic qualification competitions. A virtual hearing was held on Friday, 24 October 2025, during which the FIL argued that the exclusion was not based on nationality but intended to prevent potential incidents.
The CAS Panel found that a total exclusion was not a proportionate measure to ensure safety and that alternative mechanisms could balance athlete participation with event security. The ruling maintained the suspension of the Russian Luge Federation, but lifted the ban on athletes meeting the criteria of Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs). The request by the six athletes to compete immediately was rejected.
Daria Kachanova’s appeal against the ISU dismissed
The second procedure concerned Daria Kachanova, who appealed a 12 May 2025 decision by the International Skating Union (ISU) that excluded her from the list of athletes eligible for neutral status. The appeal, filed on 4 June 2025, claimed there were insufficient grounds to link her to organisations controlled by the Russian state.
The CAS Panel heard the case virtually on 17 October 2025. After examining arguments from both sides, the Panel concluded by majority that the ISU’s position was correct in not granting Kachanova eligibility to compete as a neutral athlete. The appeal was therefore dismissed.
Both decisions were issued without written grounds, which will be made public in due course.
