Three Russian lugers will compete in this weekend's Lake Placid World Cup, while three others have had their International Neutral Athlete (AIN) status revoked due to concerns over their neutrality. The International Luge Federation (FIL) made the decision after reviewing the athletes' eligibility, citing "new and previously unknown facts." This follows a recent Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that lifted the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes meeting AIN criteria. The FIL initially banned Russian athletes in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, but Russia has challenged these decisions legally.

Following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) will now allow eligible Russian and Belarusian athletes, including para-athletes, to participate in all FIS events. This includes qualification events for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games. The ruling stems from a challenge to FIS's previous ban, with CAS finding that FIS statutes protect individuals from discrimination and require political neutrality. The updated policy mandates direct athlete applications to FIS, excluding involvement from national ski associations of Russia and Belarus. FIS has updated its list of approved athletes and support personnel.

After a protracted legal battle and political hurdles, Russia's luge team has secured visas to compete in the second round of the International Luge Federation (FIL) World Cup in Park City, Utah. This follows a recent Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling overturning the FIL's earlier prohibition. The move signifies a step towards reintegrating Russian athletes into international competition, though challenges remain, including ongoing disputes with the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the International Luge Federation regarding qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and Minister of Sport Mikhail Degtyarev played a key role in securing the visas.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) has released the initial list of Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) who will be eligible to compete in qualifying events for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Nine Russian and Belarusian athletes have been approved, pending their formal agreement to conditions linked to their status. This process, influenced by a recent Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling, involves rigorous reviews and independent verification to ensure compliance with the Individual Neutral Athletes Policy and separation of sport from political considerations. The FIS anticipates further applications and updates to the list in the coming weeks.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers criticized the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regarding its investigation, 'Operation Puncture,' into the leak of information about 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance before the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. The lawmakers expressed concern that WADA's investigation might intimidate whistleblowers, potentially discouraging future disclosures. The US has frozen financial contributions to WADA, demanding greater transparency. WADA stated it is investigating the leak's origin and motivation, not pursuing whistleblowers. The case involves athletes who tested positive for trimetazidine, which led to strong criticism from the United States Anti-Doping Agency.