IOC lifts ban on Belarus, ban on Russia lifted July 2026

[Sylvia]

Vladislav DIKIDZHI officially has replaced Kondratiuk in the Kinoshita Group Cup entries: https://isu-skating.com/en/figure-s...kinoshita-group-cup/?tab=entries_3&type=15695

Last night:

MOSCOW, September 1 - RIA Novosti, Vlad Zhukov. Figure skater Mark Kondratyuk will not compete in the Challenger Series tournament in Tokyo due to temporary issues with his neutral status, a source close to the International Skating Union (ISU) told RIA Novosti.
It is noted that document issues arose in the final days before the departure to Japan. Vladislav Dikidzhi, who will perform in Kondratyuk's place, learned of the replacement recently.

 

[SakuraHere]

In what other sports did something like this happen? Gave an AIN and then took it back. ISU is the worst among all things pathetic.

 

[Ka3sha]

Kamila Valieva’s AIN status has been revoked

 

[Karen-W]

Kamila Valieva’s AIN status has been revoked

Here's the article from Ria Novosti -

ISU отозвал нейтральный статус у Валиевой, сообщил источник

Международный союз конькобежцев (ISU) отозвал ранее выданный нейтральный статус у российской фигуристки Камилы Валиевой, сообщил РИА Новости источник, близкий к РИА Новости Спорт, 05.09.2026

ria.ru

Meanwhile, Kogan has announced that Mishina/Galliamov have been granted AIN status - https://iz.ru/en/node/2160281 - we'll see if that sticks once the Ukrainian fed objects.

 

[Wyliefan]

Kamila Valieva’s AIN status has been revoked

Well, hallelujah. It was ridiculous of them to give it to her in the first place. They look like idiots with all this granting and revoking. But at least they got there in the end.

 

[Amy L]

I saw something that StepBuk were rejected but there was no link, just a photo with a headline. I'm sure it will be confirmed/denied soon.

 

[leilaofpaper]

Here's the article from Ria Novosti -

ISU отозвал нейтральный статус у Валиевой, сообщил источник

Международный союз конькобежцев (ISU) отозвал ранее выданный нейтральный статус у российской фигуристки Камилы Валиевой, сообщил РИА Новости источник, близкий к РИА Новости Спорт, 05.09.2026

ria.ru

Meanwhile, Kogan has announced that Mishina/Galliamov have been granted AIN status - https://iz.ru/en/node/2160281 - we'll see if that sticks once the Ukrainian fed objects.

did they trade in Kondratiuk and Valieva for Mishina/Galliamov?

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

The new pair Kabaeva/Putin has been granted AIN status. Getting technical minimums will be harder for them.

 

[Ka3sha]

I saw something that StepBuk were rejected but there was no link, just a photo with a headline. I'm sure it will be confirmed/denied soon.

Yes, it has been confirmed by Zhulin

 

[clairecloutier]

This whole thing is such a terrible look for the ISU. As missiles and drones rain down night and day on civilians in Kyiv, Odesa, and elsewhere.

It was a bad decision in the first place, and the execution is bad too.

 

[barbk]

This whole thing is such a terrible look for the ISU. As missiles and drones rain down night and day on civilians in Kyiv, Odesa, and elsewhere.

It was a bad decision in the first place, and the execution is bad too.

I wonder if there are political tug-of-wars going on within the ISU given all the back-and-forth. I do feel bad for the athletes. They deserve clarity on the standards.

 

[Sylvia]

Associated Press article by James Ellingworth (Sept. 5):

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has neutral athlete status revoked, AP source says

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has had her permission to compete internationally as a neutral athlete revoked, a person familiar with the situation has told The Associated Press.

apnews.com

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has had her permission to compete internationally as a neutral athlete revoked, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The latest twist in Valieva’s career comes more than four years after disputes about her positive doping test overshadowed the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

The person said that Valieva was initially granted neutral status under a new International Skating Union rule for this season which states that skaters from Russia and Belarus are “presumed eligible unless they fall within the disqualifying criteria.”

That status was then withdrawn from Valieva over concerns about a potential breach of criteria preventing skaters from being granted neutral status if they have previously supported Russia’s war in Ukraine, the person said.

The status has also been withdrawn from Russian men’s skater Mark Kondratiuk, who was a teammate of Valieva at the 2022 Olympics, the person said.

The ISU is due to rule on appeals by both athletes by the middle of next week and if the decision remains unchanged, the athletes would be able to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the person added.

The person did not want to be identified because the details of such cases are not typically released publicly.

The revocation of Valieva’s status was first reported by Russian news media. Valieva has not commented on her status.

The ISU had barred skaters from Russia and its ally Belarus in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It allowed a limited number to return for the Milan Cortina Olympics and a qualifying event last season. Two Russian figure skaters, Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik, competed at the Olympics but neither won a medal.

For this season, the ISU has not limited the number of places for neutral athletes and has introduced a presumption that they are eligible unless found not to be.

The ISU rules say skaters may be refused if they are serving with military or security forces, have previously participated in military operations against Ukraine or have “actively and publicly supported that war” since 2022.

 

[allezfred]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2096321968383328317

 

[SakuraHere]

I wonder if there are political tug-of-wars going on within the ISU given all the back-and-forth. I do feel bad for the athletes. They deserve clarity on the standards.

The fact that USA and Israel are competing is the clarity on ISU standards.

 

[allezfred]

The fact that USA and Israel are competing is the clarity on ISU standards.

Feel free to start a discussion on that on another thread of its own merits.

Predictably Russian media now using the results from supposedly neutral athletes to paint a picture of support for Russia as a nation.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2096266965136409005

 

[Vagabond]

They look like idiots

Appearances are not deceiving.

 

[SakuraHere]

Predictably Russian media now using the results from supposedly neutral athletes to paint a picture of support for Russia as a nation.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2096266965136409005

I don't get it. English is an operational language of this forum. Anyone can click on the link and read. The article is in English and has only two sentences about the flag: "Several fans waved Russian flags during the awards ceremony. The flag of individual neutral athletes, which is listed in the infographic next to the names of Russians and Belarusians, was also displayed in the stands." Nothing about supporting Russia as a nation or Putin or whatever. What's the point of misinformation that can be so easily verified is beyond me.
I assume some people are upset that the flag was displayed in the first place. I can clarify. It's all about local legislation. Unlike WADA TUE-ed drugs, there was never any ban of any flags or symbols. That's why no one was arrested or asked to leave.
Moreover, in order to avoid embarrassing situations, this year there was no flag group photo shooting, neither with Japanese, nor Georgian, nor Czech flag. Only when the ceremony was over and skaters left the ice, both Sato and Shimada got a Japanese flag for individual photo shooting.

 

[allezfred]

Obtuse as always.

 

[Firedancer]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2097955524595601808

 

[Karen-W]

Just a reminder of one of the reasons Stepanova/Bukin were likely denied AIN status for the Olympics last year.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1923830605973778462

 

[victorskid]

ISU Press release: https://www.isu.org/en/news/isu-update-on-ain-eligibility

 

[SakuraHere]

Just a reminder of one of the reasons Stepanova/Bukin were likely denied AIN status for the Olympics last year.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1923830605973778462

And? Do you know how many athletes attended for example White House? The question is rethorical. There is no legal grounds for Russian athletes to stay banned. They shall compete with flag and anthem like everyone else.
All the rest is speculations. ISU refused to give us reasons. To me it looks like they chose scapegoats to put all responsibility on CAS. Because ISU is not a sport organisation but a rentier who doesn't earn anything on current sport thanks to its idiocy for years but who earns on past investments and who wants to keep status quo.