The ski mountaineering federation allowed Russian army ensign Prokhorova to compete.

The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) has decided to allow Russian athlete Varvara Prokhorova to participate in competitions. According to Watchers, the athlete has been given the opportunity to compete in World Cup stages and qualify for the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy. It is worth noting that Prokhorova holds the rank of ensign in the Armed Forces of Russia.

However, the International Olympic Committee recommends granting neutral status only to those Russian athletes who have no ties to the armed forces or law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation.

Watchers reached out to the ISMF regarding Prokhorova's 'neutral status,' but the federation did not respond.

The ISMF website also indicates that Maxim Soldatkin, a Russian, is a member of the organization’s ethics and compliance office. Prokhorova herself stated in an interview that Soldatkin played a certain role in her receiving a 'neutral status.'

Prokhorova said: 'I don’t know how the federation reacted to our letters regarding neutral status. We received short replies to specific questions. But there is Maxim Soldatkin working in the international federation. I can't say that he directly helps us, but through him, we have always been informed about all the news.'

Moreover, according to a statement from Ukrainian journalist Artem Khudoleyev, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) will check the 'neutrality' of Russian athlete Alsu Minazova. Earlier, Minazova obtained the status of a 'neutral' athlete from the ICF, allowing her to participate in international competitions.

It was noted that Minazova also has controversial posts on Instagram, one of which concerns Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian journalist reached out to the ICF leaders regarding information about Minazova's involvement in propaganda events. ICF President Thomas Konechko responded to this request and stated that the information would be verified by the ICF commission.

In a letter to the journalist, Konechko stated: 'Thank you for your letter and the information provided in it. We have a clear policy regarding neutral athletes, which was approved by our ICF council in 2023. According to this policy, neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus can participate in competitions. We will pass your information for consideration to our ICF commission. Thank you again for your information and dedication.'

Currently, the status of Minazova is under review, and a decision regarding her participation in international competitions is expected. It is worth noting that Minazova has also shown support for Putin on social media, which has sparked criticism.

Recently, Ukrainian rower Larisa Zalinska, who previously served in the National Guard, traveled to Russia on a tourist trip. In her interview, she stated that she has always considered herself Russian by nationality and returned to her 'historic homeland.' Zalinska was a well-known athlete with numerous victories in international competitions.