Russia’s Skating Ban Could Be Lifted At June's ISU Congress

BusinessSportsMoneyRussia’s Skating Ban Could Be Lifted At June's ISU CongressByCaroline Price,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Olympic Sports Analyst and Published AuthorFollow AuthorMay 28, 2026, 05:12pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.BEIJING - FEBRUARY 17: Kamila Valieva of Russia in action during the Women's Ice Skating Free Program at the Winter Olympics on February 17th, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images)Getty ImagesOne of skating’s historic powerhouses could soon return to the ice. In an announcement on Tuesday, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Executive Committee reinstated Belarusian student-athletes and permitted Russian student-athletes under a neutrality eligibility framework.The landmark move clears the way for Russian and Belarusian participation at the 2027 FISU World University Winter Games in Changchun, China. Held every two years, the winter FISU World University Games are the “largest international winter multi-sport event for student-athletes,” featuring over 2,500 competitors from over 50 nations. The Executive Committee argued that the decision mirrors the IOC recommendation to spare youth athletes from government culpability. This perspective “strongly resonates with student-athletes,” FISU asserts.In an effort to “uniquely mirror" federation decisions, FISU will permit Russian athletes under neutrality conditions. Similar to the “AIN” status seen at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, these conditions prohibit the usage of national flags, anthems, or uniforms at FISU competition. 2022 ISU Suspension Changes the SportRussian and Belarusian skaters were first banned from international competition in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The International Skating Union (ISU) subsequently allowed a limited number of individual neutral athletes...