The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation voted against allowing Russian athletes to compete as neutral individuals in IBSF events. The decision was made during the federation’s congress in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the site of the sliding events for the 2026 Winter Games.
The vote followed a similar ban by the International Luge Federation in June. Russian athletes have not competed in top international circuits since 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. The federation cited extensive discussions before the decision was made.
Russian officials stated the vote was not unanimous. The World Cup season begins in Cortina in November, with the Olympics opening on 6 February. An appeal remains possible, though time is limited.