ISU expands 'neutral' skater eligibility; Apollo calls the move a farce

The International Skating Union (ISU) has decided to expand the group of figure skaters allowed to compete under the so-called neutral status. In the view of Apollo.lv, the move turns the idea of neutral status into a farce.

The decision comes as international sport is moving increasingly quickly toward bringing Russia back into elite competitions. According to Apollo.lv, developments in the figure skating world only confirm this trend, as the ISU has chosen to widen the neutral category rather than keep restrictions in place.

The source does not say which athletes or federations may be affected, nor does it provide specific terms or conditions. Still, the direction of the decision raises questions about how international sports bodies define neutrality and how that affects fair competition.

This is not the first time that Russian athletes' participation in international events has been linked to neutral status. International sport as a whole is gradually moving toward Russia's return to the elite, and the latest ISU decision is another example of that process.

Apollo.lv describes the ISU's latest move as clearly absurd and says it shows the trend of bringing Russia back into elite sport is becoming more visible. Whether other federations will follow or whether the decision will be reconsidered remains unclear.