Russian and Belarusian Figure Skaters Cleared to Return as "Neutral" Athletes

It has now been confirmed that Russian and Belarusian figure skaters will be allowed back into international competitions, provided they compete under the so-called "neutral" athlete status. The decision has already taken effect, but within less than two months its practical application has triggered confusion and controversy over what the status actually entails and how it is verified.

One of the most contentious cases involves a skater who previously publicly promoted an organization connected to the re-education of Ukrainian children — an issue widely linked by the international community to the forced transfer of children from occupied territories into Russia. Despite this connection, as well as her open support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, the athlete has now formally been granted "neutral" status, allowing her to take part in international events.

Questions over the criteria

The news outlet TVNET+ has approached the international sports organizations responsible for the rules to clarify what criteria are actually being used to grant "neutral" status, and whether such cases align with the federations' own stated conditions.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, several international sports federations have restricted participation by Russian and Belarusian athletes, stipulating that those granted "neutral" status must not publicly support the war or be affiliated with either country's military or state institutions. This case suggests that enforcing those principles in practice can prove inconsistent.