FIS clears four Russian ski jumpers for 2026/27 season under neutral status

Clearance for the 2026/27 season

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation published an official roster of Russian and Belarusian athletes approved to enter competitions during the 2026/27 season under neutral status. Competitors granted individual neutral athlete status are barred from using their national flags, anthems, or state symbols during any FIS-sanctioned events. Four Russian male ski jumpers received clearance: Jewgienij Klimow, Konstantin Nikołajew, Michaił Nazarow, and Danił Sadriejew, alongside accompanying technical support personnel. Ski jumpers from Russia have been excluded from the World Cup and all other international events organized by FIS since early 2022, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. FIS emphasized that neutral status is not granted automatically to applicants, requiring every individual to clear a formal verification process before entering competitions.

Klimow's Olympic record and public actions

The inclusion of Jewgienij Klimow on the approved list provoked immediate controversy because of his public actions following the outbreak of the war. Klimow had previously established himself as a key member of the Russian national team, winning an Olympic silver medal in the mixed team event at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. Just days after the Russian military invaded Ukraine, Klimow displayed a competition glove featuring the Russian flag directly toward television cameras at a World Cup event in Lahti, Finland. On 18 March 2022, the ski jumper attended a mass rally held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, an event attended by Russian President Władimir Putin. Photographs and broadcast footage from the Luzhniki gathering showed Klimow wearing a winter jacket decorated with the letter "Z", a symbol associated with public backing for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Neutrality vetting and regulatory scrutiny

Under the neutrality framework established by FIS, athletes seeking eligibility must satisfy several binding conditions before receiving approval. Applicants must prove that they possess no institutional ties or affiliations with the Russian or Belarusian military or state security services. Furthermore, the regulations strictly bar any competitor who has expressed public support for the armed aggression against Ukraine. The international federation stated that its compliance panel examines social media activity, public interviews, and general conduct during the vetting process, with ongoing monitoring planned throughout the competition calendar. Despite these explicit criteria, FIS cleared Klimow to compete without releasing a detailed public explanation of how his past rally appearance and public displays complied with the rules.

International response and host venue resistance

The decision to reintegrate Russian athletes under a neutral banner opens logistical and political challenges for upcoming World Cup host countries across Europe. Earlier in 2026, Polish Minister of Sport Jakub Rutnicki stated directly that Russian athletes would not be permitted to compete on Polish soil at the World Cup events held in Zakopane. The formal stance of the Polish government regarding entry visas and participation for the 2026/27 winter schedule remains unconfirmed as the season approaches. In addition, it is not yet determined what specific enforcement tools or administrative sanctions FIS possesses if national governments refuse entry to neutral athletes. Along with Klimow, experienced World Cup competitors Michaił Nazarow and Danił Sadriejew await decisions from host federations on whether they will be permitted to jump.