Court dismiss appeal filed by Russian athlete against FIS
The Ad hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its first decision in Milan for an appeal by cross-country skier Aleksandr Bolshunov (Russia) against the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
Filed on 28 January, the application by Mr Bolshunov sought a decision that he is eligible to participate in the Olympic Winter Games 2026 (OWG) as an Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN).
Mr Bolshunov challenged a decision rendered by the FIS Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel (AINERP) on 24 December 2025, which declined his application to be granted AIN status.
The CAS arbitrator assigned to the procedure noted that the CAS Ad hoc Division for the 2026 OWG has been established to resolve disputes only insofar as they arise during the 2026 OWG or during a period of 10 days preceding the Opening Ceremony of the Games.
As a result, the dispute must have arisen by 27 January 2026 at the latest, in order to fall within its jurisdiction.
Consequently, the case could not be entertained as it was filed outside the jurisdiction of the CAS Ad hoc Division Milano Cortina 2026.
