The International Ski and Snowboard Federation says its council has voted against allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in qualifiers for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

The decision Tuesday by the council of the governing body, known as FIS, effectively blocks Russian skiers and snowboarders from dozens of events at February's Games.

The International Olympic Committee allows athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus to compete as “Individual Neutral Athletes,” as they did at last year's Paris Olympics.

However, the IOC allows the international federations which run each sport to decide whether to use that system in their qualifiers. FIS, which has barred the Russia and Belarus national teams since 2022, has opted against allowing neutral athletes.

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