The Appeals Tribunal of the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) issued on 19 October a ruling that partially modifies the sanction approved in 2022 against Russian athletes. The order establishes that the ban will only apply to those who do not meet the “Individual Neutral Athletes” (INA) requirements set by the IOC for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. This shift in approach towards Russian athletes contrasts with the firmness of the International Ski Federation (FIS), which continues to uphold a ban on Russian competitors.
While the IBSF has opened a conditional pathway for Russian athletes, the FIS has taken the opposite direction. Meeting on Tuesday, the FIS Council voted against allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (INA) in qualification events for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games of Milano Cortina 2026.
What will the IBSF do?
For the bobsleigh and skeleton federation, the decision represents a significant change, though it still maintains restrictions. The Tribunal rejected the request of the Bobsleigh Federation of Russia for its athletes to return immediately to IBSF competitions, meaning the suspension remains in force until eligibility under IOC neutrality rules is clarified.
It should be noted that the IOC’s INA framework had been proposed as a possible route for these athletes to compete in the Games, but each International Federation retains the responsibility of deciding whether to apply this system to its qualification pathway. With the FIS decision, access to key snow disciplines remains blocked for Russian and Belarusian athletes.
A debate that goes beyond sport
This divergence illustrates the broader debate on the relationship between politics and sport. As recently highlighted by ‘SportsIn’ in an analysis of the International Paralympic Committee and Astrit Hasani’s letter, federations face the challenge of guaranteeing the universality of sport while managing geopolitical pressures.
The IBSF case reflects an attempt to adjust sanctions in line with IOC guidelines, while the FIS decision reinforces a more restrictive stance. Both moves show how winter sports federations are managing a delicate balance just weeks before the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games begin.
