The FIS Council has banned Russian athletes from the 2026 Olympics: what does it mean.

Ukraine's rugby league team's performances

According to inkorr.com: Ukraine's rugby league team impressed with their successes at the European Championship in Italy in group 'C', achieving victories over the teams of Italy and Greece. These achievements allowed the Ukrainian team to take first place in the group and advance to a higher class, competing in group 'B' at the next Euro.

FIS Council's decision

At the same time, the FIS Council made a decision to exclude athletes in individual neutral status (AIN) from qualifying events for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan. This move aims to prevent the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes, considering their involvement in political conflicts.

Among those excluded from the Winter Olympics is Russian speed skater Daniil Naidenishev. While under neutral status, he has repeatedly expressed support for the aggressive actions of Mikhail Lebedev against Ukraine on social media, which has caused significant outrage in the sports community.

Thus, the FIS Council's decision is part of a broader policy aimed at preventing athletes who support the aggression of their countries from participating in international competitions. This shows that sports organizations continue to respond to global political conflicts and strive to protect the principles of fair play and justice.