Skier Volkov appealed to CAS the FIS decision to deny him neutral status

Russian skier Sergei Volkov said on Match TV that he appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) the decision of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to deny him neutral status.

In December, Volkov announced that he had activated his FIS code and was awaiting the organization’s decision on obtaining neutral status to compete at international competitions.

“The current situation is that I was denied neutral status due to the fact that four years ago I had a six-month disqualification for using a prohibited nasal spray. Because of this, I cannot take part in competitions as a neutral athlete. FIS told me this. I had a dialogue with him: I asked for a clause in the rules where it would be written that five years, as they say, had to pass from the moment of the last disqualification for a neutral athlete to be able to compete. But there was no answer.

I would still like to resolve the matter amicably, but unfortunately the time limit within which I could appeal to CAS was running out. Therefore, I filed a claim with CAS against the decision to deny neutral status.

Most likely, a decision on neutral status will be made in March. Yes, it’s quite late. There will already be Scandinavian stages, for which it is unknown whether there will be admission, and North American ones.

For me, this is an important moment of justice, I want to fight for it and defend my good name at this moment,” Volkov said on Match TV.

Russian athletes have been suspended from participation in competitions under the auspices of the FIS since 2022 due to the situation in Ukraine. The Russian side challenged the non-admission to CAS, FIS recognized the decision of CAS and published the admission criteria, Savely Korostelev and Daria Nepryaeva were given neutral status.