Ongoing Exclusion of Russian and Belarusian Cross-Country Skiers

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) convened on Friday and affirmed that Russian and Belarusian cross-country skiers will continue to be excluded from the World Cup. Prominent athletes like Aleksandr Bolsjunov will remain barred from competing on this prestigious stage.

As reported by Expressen, this ban extends beyond cross-country skiing, affecting Russian and Belarusian athletes in ski jumping, alpine skiing, and Nordic combined events as well. Ulf Morten Aune, the head coach, reiterated to Dagbladet that there will be no change in the current position regarding this issue.

This decision has garnered support from ski president Tove Moe Dyrhaug, who remarked that it represents a positive step, particularly given that the situation in Ukraine has not changed.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, winter sports athletes from both Russia and Belarus have been prohibited from participating in World Cup competitions. Bolsjunov is recognized as one of the leading figures in cross-country skiing. Meanwhile, Lars Öberg, the Swedish cross-country coach, shared his apprehensions about a potential lifting of the exclusion but expressed optimism following the FIS's decision, noting a strong consensus on the matter.