US skeleton athlete Katie Uhlaender's bid for a sixth Olympic Games is in jeopardy following a dispute over the integrity of the qualification system. The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) cleared Canada's skeleton program of wrongdoing after investigating the late withdrawal of four Canadian athletes from a North American Cup race, a move Uhlaender alleges was orchestrated to manipulate Olympic standings. Despite winning the race, Uhlaender fell short of securing an Olympic berth, and the incident has sparked concern among athletes and federations from multiple countries. The IBSF ultimately found no rule violations, but the controversy highlights concerns about fairness and the Olympic spirit.

The IBSF Appeals Tribunal partially modified its 2022 ban on Russian athletes, allowing those meeting IOC's INA criteria for Milano Cortina 2026 to compete. This contrasts with the FIS, which continues to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from qualification events for the 2026 Winter Games. The IBSF will maintain the suspension until IOC neutrality rules are clarified. This divergence highlights the debate on the relationship between politics and sport, as federations balance universality with geopolitical pressures.