UPDATE ON PROCEDURES CONCERNING RUSSIAN PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL SPORT AND ISSUES ICE HOCKEY RULING
THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) PROVIDES UPDATE ON PROCEDURES CONCERNING RUSSIAN PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL SPORT AND ISSUES ICE HOCKEY RULING
Lausanne, Friday 30 October 2026 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has managed numerous requests for arbitration between 2025 and 2026 by Russian sports-bodies and athletes concerning participation in international sports. These procedures are assessed and continue to be assessed within a legal and sporting context, and on their individual merits.
The procedures mostly centre around eligibility and governance matters – whether athletes and national federations are eligible to compete and under which conditions, and whether sports bodies have followed the applicable rules. CAS must carry out each appeal or request for arbitration separately and only appeals concerning the same sport or decision can be consolidated. Procedures are decided by an individually nominated Arbitral Panel and on the basis of the applicable rules, specific to each International Federation.
This year, CAS has received three separate appeals by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF) against the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) concerning the participation of Russian teams in IIHF competitions and participation of the RIHF in an IIHF Congress. Today, CAS upheld one of these appeals, and the IIHF are ordered to allow the participation of Russian teams in the following competitions:
•
World Junior Championship, Canada, 26 December 2026 – 5 January 2027
•
U18 Women’s World Championship, Czech Republic, 8 – 16 January 2027
•
U18 Men’s World Championship, USA, 22 April – 2 May 2027
•
Men’s World Championship, Germany, 14 – 30 May 2027
•
Women’s World Championship, Canada, November 2027
In January 2026, the IIHF Council decided not to reintegrate Russian teams into IIHF competitions for the 2026-2027 season, citing safety and security concerns. The RIHF appealed this decision to the IIHF Disciplinary Board, and the decision was annulled in May 2026. The matter was sent back to the IIHF Council to re-analyse it based on safety, security, operational, and sporting plans. In June 2026, the IIHF Council decided to maintain their initial decision not to reintegrate Russian teams.
The RIHF and the IIHF agreed to skip internal instances and refer the matter directly to CAS for a final ruling. Accordingly, the RIHF filed an appeal to CAS against the IIHF Council decision, and the case was heard in-person at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 23 and 26 October 2026.
The CAS Panel, composed of Mr Giulio Palermo as President (Italy), Mr Ismail Selim (Egypt) and Mr
Mark Hovell (UK), found that the IIHF arguments citing safety, security and other concerns were not
supported by sufficient evidence. They noted that the IIHF Disciplinary Board already found that
the evidence was insufficient to establish the legal requirements for non-participation. The Panel
unanimously concluded that, in the light of the applicable IIHF regulations, only substantiated
security concerns could outweigh athletes of a particular nationality to participate in
competitions. Consequently, the appeal was upheld.
The Panel set aside the IIHF Council decision with immediate effect, but did not order alternative
measures, such as a neutrality regime, nor discussed organizational consequences, which were
not requested and not subject to the appeal. This CAS award is Operative only, with grounds to
follow (CAS/A/12753).
* * * * * * * * * *
On 13 October 2026, CAS dismissed two appeals by the Russian Curling Federation and Russian
athletes against two World Curling decisions to lift the exclusion for Russian junior athletes but
maintain it for other Russian teams, and to maintain an exclusion on Russia from adult World
Curling competitions until the end of 2026. World Curling cited that the reintroduction of Russian
adult athletes would present significant challenges to the integrity of the competitions.
These procedures were consolidated and a virtual hearing was held on 6 October 2026. The CAS
Panel heard World Curling’s arguments that it seeks to avoid problems such as teams refusing to
compete against Russian athletes, hosts refusing to stage competitions in which Russian athletes
take part, or visa refusals. They concluded that the World Curling decisions are based on issues
posing a problem to the well-functioning of the competitions, and that their nature is not
disciplinary. Consequently, the appeals were dismissed, and Russian adult athletes remain
excluded from World Curling events. These decisions were Operative only, with grounds to follow
(CAS 2026/A/12777 and CAS 2026/A/12173).
* * * * * * * * * *
Procedures concerning Russian participation decided by CAS in 2025 – 2026
▪ In October 2025, CAS partially upheld an appeal by the Russian Luge Federation (RLF) and
Russian athletes contesting a decision by the International Luge Federation which cited
risks to the safety of the competitions. The CAS Panel ruled that Russian athletes should be
allowed to participate in International Luge Federation (FIL) competitions in strict
compliance with AIN eligibility criteria (CAS 2025/A/11592).
▪ In December 2025, CAS partially upheld an appeal by the Russian Ski Association (RSF) and
Russian athletes against the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). The CAS
Panel found that the FIS Statutes require the FIS to be politically neutral. They ruled that
Russian athletes should be allowed to participate in FIS events in strict compliance with
AIN eligibility criteria (CAS 2025/A/11915).
▪ In January 2026, CAS received an appeal by the Russian Gymnastics Federation and a
Russian gymnast against the International Gymnastics Federation concerning neutral
status. This appeal was withdrawn and the procedure was terminated in June 2026 (CAS
2026/A/12137). This follows the same procedural outcome as seven other gymnastics
procedures in 2025 (2025/A/11320-11327).
▪ In March 2026, CAS heard an appeal filed by the Russian Luge Federation and Russian
Athletes concerning the participation of Athletes with Individual Neutrality status (AIN) in
all Men’s and Women’s Doubles Teams luge events. The CAS Panel dismissed the appeal
and confirmed the decision of the FIL Executive Board to consider that the Men’s and
Women’s Doubles Teams, Team Relay, and Mixed Team events are ‘Team’ events, and
therefore not open to AIN status (CAS 2025/A/11986).
▪ In March 2026, CAS issued a ruling in an appeal by the Ukrainian Chess Federation to
suspend the membership of the Chess Federation of Russia from the International Chess
Federation (FIDE) if it did not cease to regulate chess activities in the city of Sevastopol and
the regions of Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporozhye (CAS 2024/A/10911).
▪ In April 2026, CAS received an appeal by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF) against
the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), following a decision denying RIHF
participation in person at the IIHF Congress of May 2026, which was withdrawn and
terminated by CAS in June 2026 (CAS 2026/A/12331).
Ongoing CAS procedures that concern Russian participation
▪ CAS 2025/O/12015 Russian Biathlon Union et al. v. International Biathlon Union (IBU). This
procedure concerns the participation of Russian athletes in IBU competitions. A final
decision is expected in due course.
▪ CAS 2026/A/12558 Russian Ice Hockey Federation v. International Ice Hockey Federation.
This appeal was filed prior to the case decided today (CAS 2026/A/12753) concerning the
IIHF Disciplinary Board decision in May 2026. An accelerated procedural calendar was
agreed for 12753 which concerned the subsequent IIHF Council decision in the same
matter.
▪ CAS 2026/O/12684 Russian Athletics v. World Athletics and CAS 2026/O/12612 Russian
Athletics v. World Athletics. These procedures concern the World Athletics ban on Russian
athletes. A hearing for these procedures is yet to be scheduled.
CAS procedures relating to International Olympic Committee (IOC) decisions
▪ In October 2023, the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). The ROC
appealed this decision at CAS, which was dismissed (CAS 2023/A/10093).
▪ In July 2026, IOC provisionally lifted the suspension of the ROC. The NOC of Ukraine filed
an appeal to CAS against the IOC decision the same month, and this procedure is ongoing
(CAS 2026/A/12669).
This is an unofficial summary for media use. For legal purposes, only the language used in a written
decision is binding.
For further information related to CAS activity and procedures, please contact the press office at
