The International Ski Federation (FIS) has agreed to maintain a ban on athletes from Russia and Belarus from all competitions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and Minsk’s support for the action.
"The FIS Council decided, with due regard to the integrity of FIS competitions and for the safety of all participants, and in line with IOC (International Olympic Committee) recommendations, to continue its policy to not allow Russian and Belarusian teams and athletes, to participate in all FIS competition," the FIS said on October 22.
With the ban, athletes from the two countries will be barred from competing in alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, freestyle, and snowboard events.
The International Biathlon Union (IBU) has barred athletes from the countries from competing in its events.
Russia is a traditional power in cross-country skiing, having won a third of all medals available at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing in February.
The head of the Russian Freestyle Skiing Federation Aleksei Kurashov condemned the decision as “unfair.”
“It is unpleasant, because everything that is unfair is unpleasant. Especially in sports, which should be honest and open,” Kurashov said.
The FIS said the decision was in line with recommendations made by the IOC.
Since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian athletes and cultural performers have been banned or restricted from numerous events worldwide. Belarusians have also faced bans in response to that country’s assistance to Russia in staging the invasion.