ISU bans Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in international events in 2026/2027

• ISU disqualifies Russian and Belarusian figure skaters from participating in international competitions throughout the 2026/2027 season.
• Under the new rules, athletes must meet certain conditions: they must be neutral; they must not have any ties to their country’s military or security forces; and they must not have participated in competitions that violate the international status.
• The decision is expected to affect Russian and Belarusian athletes, as the ISU plans to prevent them from competing under the current rules.

The International Skating Union (ISU) has banned Russian and Belarusian figure skaters from taking part in international competitions in the 2026/2027 season. The ruling comes after the ISU decided in 2022 to ban Russia and Belarus athletes from international competitions.

Under the ISU’s rules, athletes may not compete under national flags, and they must comply with the neutral status requirements. It is also stated that athletes may not have any ties to the military or security forces. The ISU notes that the neutral status cannot be granted if athletes have participated in competitions violating the international status.

The ISU also clarified that the decisions apply to Russian and Belarusian athletes: they will be allowed to compete only if they meet the requirements for neutral status, and their participation will be limited by the ISU’s regulations.

Russian and Belarusian athletes have been barred from international competitions since 2022 following the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine. In 2024, the ISU allowed them to take part in competitions only if they met certain conditions. At the same time, on the eve of the 2026 Winter Olympics, the ISU decided to tighten the rules. At the same time, 13 athletes from Russia were included in the list for the 2026 season, with the figure skaters’ share being the largest.

ISU clarified that the neutral status may be granted only in cases where athletes have not actively supported the war and have not publicly expressed support for the invasion. It is also noted that neutral status may be revoked if athletes violate the requirements.

It is also stated that the decision will apply to all Russian and Belarusian athletes who wish to compete in international competitions. The ISU notes that it will be up to the federation to verify compliance with the requirements.

In addition, ISU has indicated that in 2027 the figure skating events will be held in Finland, and the World Championships will take place in Korea—short track; while China will host the World Championships for both men and women.

Tags: Russia/Sport