Neutral Skaters Under Conditions
ISU Approves Russian, Belarusian Skaters' Neutral Return for 2026-27 Season Under Strict Rules
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Key Points
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Belarusian athletes may be readmitted under their nation’s name, flag and colors according to updated IOC guidance, with the ISU neutrals framework operating within that broader stance on Belarus’ participation.
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Eligibility for neutral status includes a strict ban on athletes who are in active military or security services, who have taken part in military operations, or who have publicly supported the war since February 2022.
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Neutral skaters face reduced quotas for the 2026–27 season because they have been away from ISU events for more than the maximum three-year period and could not accrue ranking points during that time.
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The ISU introduces an Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) team concept, allowing neutrals to participate in team events (synchronized skating, speed skating team pursuit, short track relays) as a neutral team, with each member subject to neutrality conditions.
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Practical logistics, including visa entry hurdles and host-country arrangements, remain a challenge, with upcoming ISU-hosted events slated for Finland (2027 figure skating worlds), South Korea (short track), and China (speed skating), alongside ongoing considerations from IOC guidance and earlier Milan-Cortina neutral participation.
Russian and Belarusian figure skaters will return to international competition for the first time in five seasons, after the International Skating Union published Communication 2804 on June 30, 2026. The ISU Council ruled that eligible athletes may compete as Individual Neutral Athletes — with no national flag, no anthem, and no state kit — starting in the 2026-27 season. NBC Sports reported the decision follows developments at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, where 20 neutral athletes competed "without related incident."
The ban on Russian and Belarusian skaters has been in place since March 2022. The ISU framed it not as a punishment but as a "protective measure" to guard the safety and integrity of competition. That language matters: the ISU says lifting it is not an endorsement of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but a recognition that eligible athletes should not bear responsibility for their government's actions.
Strict Eligibility Rules Bar War Supporters and Soldiers
Not every Russian or Belarusian skater qualifies. The ISU bars any athlete currently serving in the armed forces or national security services. It also bars anyone who took part in military operations or who publicly supported the war at any point since February 2022. Athletes must sign an ISU AIN Acknowledgement Form, which bans political propaganda and the display of national symbols. Those who refuse are out.
Belarus gets a slight carve-out. The IOC updated its guidance in May 2026, suggesting Belarusian athletes could return under their national name and flag. NBC Sports noted the ISU chose to keep stricter neutrality rules for Belarusians anyway, staying tighter than the IOC's recommendation. The ISU also reserved the right to "reintroduce or increase restrictive measures" at any moment if problems arise. A unit called the Skating Integrity Unit will monitor compliance.
Reduced Quotas Reflect Five Years of Missing Ranking Points
Returning skaters will not walk straight back onto the biggest stages. Because Russian and Belarusian federations have been absent from ISU events for over three years, they have zero accrued world ranking points. The ISU will limit them to minimum baseline quotas — typically one entry per discipline — for the entire 2026-27 season. Athletes who once topped world rankings will have to rebuild from scratch.
The ISU is also introducing something new: an AIN team concept. Neutral athletes will be allowed to form a collective team and compete in synchronized skating, speed skating team pursuit, and short track relays. They will also be eligible for the ISU World Team Trophy. Every member of the AIN team must individually meet the neutrality conditions. Sports Yahoo noted this is the first time neutrals have been allowed to enter team-format events under the ISU framework.
Milan-Cortina Provided the Proof of Concept for Return
The path to Communication 2804 ran through Milan-Cortina. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, just 20 AIN athletes competed across all winter sports — a steep drop from the 212 ROC athletes Russia sent to the 2022 Beijing Games. Among them were Russian figure skaters Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik, both of whom finished sixth in their events. Belarus' Viktoriia Safonova also competed. The ISU pointed to the absence of incidents as justification for broader readmission, according to NBC Sports.
ISU President Jae Youl Kim said "safety remains the guiding consideration" in easing the restrictions. The ISU Council echoed that framing, stating that "skaters should not be held responsible for the actions of their governments." The Ukrainian Skating Federation continues to oppose readmission and receives financial support from the ISU Development Program. Ukrainian media described the move as "sportwashing," arguing the war is still ongoing.
Visa Hurdles and Host Countries Pose Real Logistical Problems
Even with eligibility settled on paper, getting Russian and Belarusian skaters onto the ice is not guaranteed. The 2027 Figure Skating World Championships are slated for Finland, a NATO member with strict border controls toward Russia. Finnish visa policy could block athletes from entering the country entirely. Short track events are set for South Korea, and speed skating competitions will be held in China, which presents fewer barriers.
Russian and Belarusian judges and officials remain fully barred. ISU Communication 2469, issued in March 2022, still applies to them. The ISU said it is "developing a pathway" for officials to return eventually, but no timeline was given. For now, neutral athletes will compete in front of panels that do not include judges from their own federations — a logistical quirk that adds another layer of complexity to the 2026-27 season.
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