Russian and Belarusian skiers and snowboarders have effectively been stopped from competing in the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, even as “neutral” athletes without flags, anthems or other symbols of their nationality.

That’s because the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, also known as FIS, has decided not to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in qualifying events ahead of the Olympics that begin next February.

A two-paragraph FIS statement says the Switzerland-based organization’s council voted Tuesday " not to facilitate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) in FIS qualification events" for the next Winter Games.

The statement points out that although the International Olympic Committee

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