CAS partially upholds Russian luge appeal for neutral status at 2026 Games

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A view of the Court of Arbitration for Sport logo at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Russian luge athletes may be eligible to compete in qualifying events ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics if they meet neutral status criteria after the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday partially upheld a Russian Luge Federation appeal.

In July, the RLF said it would take legal action over a decision by the sports global governing body to bar the countrys athletes, even as neutrals, from the qualifying process for the Milano Cortina Games.

The International Luge Federation (FIL) voted at its congress in Tampere, Finland, in June to extend an existing exclusion for Russian athletes from its competitions. It also voted to not authorise a programme for neutral Russian athletes.

The RLF had said it had notified the governing body of its intention to challenge the decision in international courts.

A virtual hearing took place on Friday 24 October 2025, CAS said in a statement.

The Panel ruled that the exclusion of RLF athletes from FIL competitions is maintained, but the prohibition of Russian athletes who satisfy the criteria of AINs (Individual Neutral Athlete) to compete is set aside. Consequently, the appeal was partially upheld.

However, the panel rejected their request for immediate reinstatement to international competitions.

The six athletes involved in the appeal — Aleksandr Gorbatsevich, Sofiia Mazur, Andrei Bogdanov, Iurii Prokhorov, Ekaterina Fomina and Polina Grigore — were seeking immediate entry into