Russian skiers Savely Korostelev and Daria Nepryaeva received neutral status from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to participate in the qualifying competitions for the 2026 Olympic Games, the organization’s press service reports.

The World Cup stage in Davos will take place from December 12 to 14. This is the final start where Russians can qualify for the Olympics, which will be held from February 6 to 22, 2026 in Italy.

Korostelev and Nepryaeva, as well as freestyle skier Anastasia Tatalina, became the first athletes from Russia to receive neutral status from the FIS. The list also includes five freestyle skiers and one alpine skier from Belarus. It is likely that the list of neutral athletes will be supplemented as applications are reviewed.

22-year-old Korostelev is a multiple winner and medalist of the Russian Championship, two-time world champion among juniors. 23-year-old Nepryaeva is a two-time Russian champion in cross-country skiing and a multiple medalist at the national championship.

Earlier, the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev said that Russia won a claim in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the FIS and now the international federation is obliged to allow Russian athletes to compete. Degtyarev noted that the CAS arbitrators recognized the demands of the Russian side as reasonable and legitimate and, in accordance with the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), obliged FIS to allow Russians to compete in Olympic disciplines in a neutral status, and athletes in Paralympic disciplines under the national flag. The FIS accepted the CAS decision and published the eligibility criteria.

Russian athletes have been suspended by FIS from international competitions since February 2022. According to the admission criteria, neutral status can be obtained by athletes who are not associated with the armed forces and security forces of Russia or Belarus, and also do not express support for the Northern Military District. Athletes will only be able to take part in individual competitions.

• Skier Korostelev independently paid about 200 thousand rubles for obtaining neutral status