Russian Skaters Allowed to Compete as Neutrals (AIN) to Qualify for 2026 Winter Olympics

[caseyedwards]

I believe they're with Zhulin now

And It probably will be judged being coached by Zhulin is implicit nonverbal support of the war because he is everywhere supporting the war

 

[olympic]

I'm a bit thick, so in shorthand, is this the current position? -

-1 skater or team from RUS can compete in the 2026 Olympics per discipline. The qualifying competition will be in China (which one?)
-They will compete as a neutral athlete; no flag no anthem
-The skater(s) must have never participated in pro-war activities (the extent of participation is not defined?)
-The associated coaching team must never have participated in pro-war activities
-As is normal, athletes obviously must be doping free (negative doping tests)
-Coaches must be free of doping scandal.

This is what I got out of the thread.

 

[caseyedwards]

I'm a bit thick, so in shorthand, is this the current position? -

-1 skater or team from RUS can compete in the 2026 Olympics per discipline. The qualifying competition will be in China (which one?)
-They will compete as a neutral athlete; no flag no anthem
-The skater(s) must have never participated in pro-war activities (the extent of participation is not defined?)
-The associated coaching team must never have participated in pro-war activities
-As is normal, athletes obviously must be doping free (negative doping tests)
-Coaches must be free of doping scandal.

This is what I got out of the thread.

This is incorrect. No Russian is eligible to complete. They are eligible to be evaluated by the isu to see if they have anything in their life that connects them to the war or doping. Connections to the war can be implicit and nonverbal. No Russian is eligible. They are just eligible to be evaluated as of right now. No one should expect any Russians in China or Italy

If you can’t define implicit and nonverbal you can’t say anyone is eligible. Because implicit and nonverbal can be anything. It’s completely exclusionary in intent.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I'm a bit thick, so in shorthand, is this the current position? -

-1 skater or team from RUS can compete in the 2026 Olympics per discipline. The qualifying competition will be in China (which one?)

The qualifying competition for Olympic spots this year is separate from Nebelhorn and will be held in China. They will compete with all other nations that didn't earn spots at worlds or that earned the chance to compete for an additional spot due to placements at worlds.

 

[caseyedwards]

The qualifying competition for Olympic spots this year is separate from Nebelhorn and will be held in China. They will compete with all other nations that didn't earn spots at worlds or that earned the chance to compete for an additional spot due to placements at worlds.

It is not clear any will be deemed eligible so you can’t say for sure they will compete.

 

[caseyedwards]

World skate of skateboarding and inline skating also banned Russians unless they did anything implicit or nonverbal and they did approve some.

https://www.worldskate.org/about/documents/category/1241-partecipation-of-russian-and-belarusian-athletes.html?download=6402:criteria-for-the-participation-of-russian-and-belarusian-athletes-in-world-skate-competitions

 

[caseyedwards]

Norway and a number of other countries intend to protest the ISU's decision to allow Russia and Belarus to qualify for the Olympic Games-2026​

A number of countries are going to protest the ISU's decision to admit Russia to the selection for the OI.

It’s always been clear there were never going to be any Russians in China or Italy

 

[PRlady]

I think that with the change of administration in the US, if Putin really cares about Oly participation and we know he does, there might be pressure on US sports federations from theUS government to help facilitate that. Certainly nobody at USFS is going to stand up to a Trumpie leaning on them.

 

[caseyedwards]

I think that with the change of administration in the US, if Putin really cares about Oly participation and we know he does, there might be pressure on US sports federations from theUS government to help facilitate that. Certainly nobody at USFS is going to stand up to a Trumpie leaning on them.

The rules have already been set! The rules have already been written to exclude Russians based on implicit nonverbal support. How can they undo what they have already set in motion withe this implicit nonverbal test.

 

[MacMadame]

I think that with the change of administration in the US, if Putin really cares about Oly participation and we know he does, there might be pressure on US sports federations from theUS government to help facilitate that. Certainly nobody at USFS is going to stand up to a Trumpie leaning on them.

But it's the ISU's decision. So USFS would have to be pressured enough that they put pressure on the ISU which I don't see happening. It's easy enough to nod your head when asked to put pressure on them but then just not do it, for one thing.

 

[Karen-W]

I think that with the change of administration in the US, if Putin really cares about Oly participation and we know he does, there might be pressure on US sports federations from theUS government to help facilitate that. Certainly nobody at USFS is going to stand up to a Trumpie leaning on them.

But it's the ISU's decision. So USFS would have to be pressured enough that they put pressure on the ISU which I don't see happening. It's easy enough to nod your head when asked to put pressure on them but then just not do it, for one thing.

I can't see the USFS or the USOPC putting much pressure on either the ISU or IOC with regard to Russia returning to the Olympics. What I could see, if there is a peace deal by the time the OQE comes around is the ISU, under pressure from the IOC, is the following:

1) going lightly on the reviews of skaters with the current restrictions,

2) allowing Russia to submit additional names as substitutes & also to treat the spots earned as belonging to the federation rather than the individual athlete, which would mean if the athlete who earns the spot is injured in the fall, Russia can still use the spot,

And 3) allowing them to try to qualify for the TE - whether or not they'd earn the points for that is a different question with the lack of ISU Championship points & not many GP/JGP points.

 

[canscot]

Having just finished watching the 4 Continents I noted there was quite a large team from Kazakhstan, which I expect will be well-represented in the next Olympics.

 

[tony]

Having just finished watching the 4 Continents I noted there was quite a large team from Kazakhstan, which I expect will be well-represented in the next Olympics.

With the rules put into place for 2022, Shaidorov finishing in the top 10 means that Jirenbeyev presumably would be sent to China to try to qualify another spot. At this point, that would be an extreme long shot.

No Kazakh women at Worlds means one could be sent to China, [see correction below] as well- and they are in the same boat as Jirenbeyev. Extremely unlikely to qualify (at this point).

Nauryzova & Datiev also will not be a factor into getting into the individual ice dance competition. So that leaves one athlete for 2026.

Kazakhstan historically has been one of the countries that benefitted in multiple entries from the old rules:
Denis Ten's 9th place in 2009 allowed Abzal Rakimgaliev to go to the Vancouver Olympics with him.
Again in 2013, Denis Ten's silver medal allowed Rakimgaliev another ticket, to Sochi.
Elizabet Tursynbaeva's top 10 finish at 2017 Worlds allowed Aiza Mambekova a trip to Pyeongchang 2018.

 

[Vagabond]

No Kazakh women at Worlds means one could be sent to China, as well- and they are in the same boat as Jirenbeyev. Extremely unlikely to qualify (at this point).

Sofia Samodelkina is on the entry list for Worlds. I think she has a very good chance of securing a spot for Kazakhstan at next year's Winter Olympic Games

 

[tony]

Sofia Samodelkina is on the entry list for Worlds. I think she has a very good chance of securing a spot for Kazakhstan at next year's Winter Olympic Games

Yeah I don't know why I skipped right over her. She's not only in good position to secure the spot, but she could even finish top 10. She was great at 4CC. So 2 athletes for 2026.

 

[Karen-W]

So, apparently, FIG is in the process of reviewing Russian gymnasts for AIN status to allow them to return to competition and rumor is that Viktoria Listunova was rejected simply for posting a photo on her social media about Victory Day.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1899477332210975015

If the same firm conducting FIG's reviews will be handling the ISU's reviews, then I would anticipate that pretty much anyone who has had anything to do with Putin, even just showing up at the Kremlin for a 2022 Beijing Winter Olympians recognition day, is likely to be rejected. Same with all those skaters who were at that Plushenko show in Tula that had the pre-war rally they were obligated to attend in April 2022.

 

[PRlady]

S

So, apparently, FIG is in the process of reviewing Russian gymnasts for AIN status to allow them to return to competition and rumor is that Viktoria Listunova was rejected simply for posting a photo on her social media about Victory Day.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1899477332210975015

If the same firm conducting FIG's reviews will be handling the ISU's reviews, then I would anticipate that pretty much anyone who has had anything to do with Putin, even just showing up at the Kremlin for a 2022 Beijing Winter Olympians recognition day, is likely to be rejected. Same with all those skaters who were at that Plushenko show in Tula that had the pre-war rally they were obligated to attend in April 2022.

So the two youngsters, Petrosian and the D guy whose name I can’t spell, should be ok. MishGal and StepBuk, no.

 

[Karen-W]

S
So The two youngsters, Petrosian and the D guy whose name I can’t spell, should be ok. MishGal and StepBuk, no.

Women - Petrosian is going to be a question mark since she trains with Team Eteri and has been with her for years, but we'll see. No one knows for sure who the 2nd woman submitted is - I think I've seen rumors it may be Alina Gorbacheva, but that's just whispers. Other option seems to be Anna Frolova.

Men - should be Gumennik, who seems to have posted NOTHING on his social media that is even remotely pro-war. I'd be shocked if the substitute isn't Dikidzhi - 4A and all that.

Pairs - MishGal and BoiKoz would be out if the rules are as strict as the ones that have been applied to the gymnasts. Khabibulina/Knyazhuk and Mukhortova/Evgeniev (who were interesting in juniors, IIRC) would be the other options, I think, but I have no idea what their social media history is.

Dance - for sure StepBuk are out, same with Khavronina/Naryzhnyy - her dad is either military or an oligarch, IIRC. The RFSF may have just gone for one of the young teams, to try & set them up for the next quad instead - Pasechnik/Cirisano or Kaganovskaya/Nekrasov.

Just an FYI on the timeline - it looks like FIG submitted their AIN names in early January, and it's taken a couple months for FIG to approve/reject, so we're probably not going to hear anything definitive until after WTT at the earliest.

 

[caseyedwards]

Women - Petrosian is going to be a question mark since she trains with Team Eteri and has been with her for years, but we'll see. No one knows for sure who the 2nd woman submitted is - I think I've seen rumors it may be Alina Gorbacheva, but that's just whispers. Other option seems to be Anna Frolova.

Men - should be Gumennik, who seems to have posted NOTHING on his social media that is even remotely pro-war. I'd be shocked if the substitute isn't Dikidzhi - 4A and all that.

Pairs - MishGal and BoiKoz would be out if the rules are as strict as the ones that have been applied to the gymnasts. Khabibulina/Knyazhuk and Mukhortova/Evgeniev (who were interesting in juniors, IIRC) would be the other options, I think, but I have no idea what their social media history is.

Dance - for sure StepBuk are out, same with Khavronina/Naryzhnyy - her dad is either military or an oligarch, IIRC. The RFSF may have just gone for one of the young teams, to try & set them up for the next quad instead - Pasechnik/Cirisano or Kaganovskaya/Nekrasov.

Just an FYI on the timeline - it looks like FIG submitted their AIN names in early January, and it's taken a couple months for FIG to approve/reject, so we're probably not going to hear anything definitive until after WTT at the earliest.

You don’t have to do anything explicit! It’s in the rules you can’t do anything implicit or nonverbal. All these people are taking money from sanctioned pro war channel one to be on their skating show in a few days. It’s a pro war tv channel they are being paid by. Gumenik may not have anything on his social media but he’s going to be on pro war channel in a few days! Implicit nonverbal act of pro war! There is no one you named that isn’t about to be paid to be on sanctioned pro war tv channel.

If any American did what these skaters are about to do they would be arrested.

 

[hanca]

Pairs - MishGal and BoiKoz would be out if the rules are as strict as the ones that have been applied to the gymnasts. Khabibulina/Knyazhuk and Mukhortova/Evgeniev (who were interesting in juniors, IIRC) would be the other options, I think, but I have no idea what their social media history is.

What about the three pairs from Perm? I think they may be as good as Khabibulina/Knyazhuk and Mukhortova/Evgeniev. I know there have been some injuries but they haven’t split up, have they?

 

[terisa]

I think that with the change of administration in the US, if Putin really cares about Oly participation and we know he does, there might be pressure on US sports federations from theUS government to help facilitate that. Certainly nobody at USFS is going to stand up to a Trumpie leaning on them.

Trump/Musk (AKA Mump) will pressure the IOC, the IOC will pressure the ISU, and Mump and the ISU will pressure USFS... Putin wiil be pushing for full reinstatement by 2026.

 

[Karen-W]

Trump/Musk (AKA Mump) will pressure the IOC, the IOC will pressure the ISU, and Mump and the ISU will pressure USFS... Putin wiil be pushing for full reinstatement by 2026.

This is such a ridiculous statement it almost does not bear responding, but it needs to be addressed.

1) Trump is not going to intervene on Russia/Putin's behalf with the IOC. That is the furthest thing from his mind with the current Ukraine-Russia negotiations.

2) The IOC'S President, Thomas Bach, has been one of the softest toadies with regard to Russia in the history of the IOC - and that's saying a lot since his predecessor, Jacques Rogge, was orgiastic about awarding & then presiding over the Sochi Games. Bach has been pushing the IOC to soften its stance for the better part of the last two years.

3) The main push with the softening was directed at the Summer Olympics sports federations, like FIG, FISA, World Athletics, etc. Many bowed to the pressure & at least allowed Russian & Belarusian athletes the opportunity to qualify as AINs ahead of Paris.

4) Now that Paris is in the rearview mirror, the pressure has been put on the Winter Olympics sports federations to allow Russia & Belarus to compete at in Milano.

5) See the pattern? The easing of the sport sanctions has been happening and it's because the IOC stooges want to suck up to Putin all on their own, without any interference or influence from the likes of Trump, Macron, Meloni, or any other world leader.

6) The IOC will be electing a new President at the end of this month. At least one candidate, FIG President Watanabe, has already met with Putin & the word from the Kremlin was it went very well. Watanabe is Japanese, just for the record. There actually are no Americans running for the position. The only candidate who has publicly stated opposition to allowing Russia & Belarus to return to international sports competition without restrictions is Lord Coe, the head of World Athletics. The others - Kirsty Coventry (from Zimbabwe), Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, a Norwegian, a Frenchman, and Prince Feisal al-Hussein of Jordan have been quite squishy.

7) Again, see a pattern here? The IOC is plenty inclined to lift the ban as soon as possible and there is little reason to believe it won't happen as soon as ceasefire is in place - though they may wait until a formal peace agreement has been signed. At this point, the ball is in Putin's court as to whether or not he agrees to the ceasefire.

8) I suppose, in that regard, maybe you are right about Trump being responsible. Such a horrible, awful thing - to have this meat grinder of a war some to an end.

 

[MacMadame]

I agree that the IOC sucks plenty all on their own.

 

[Rukia]

This is such a ridiculous statement it almost does not bear responding, but it needs to be addressed.

it really really didn't

 

[Karen-W]

it really really didn't

YMMV - but, I do think it is worth reiterating that the IOC has been horribly squishy on the question of the continued ban on Russian & Belarusian athletes for the better part of the last 2 years. For the first year or so, they weren't entertaining the notion of allowing RUS/BLR back, despite rumblings from some of the international sports feds who had presidents from Russia or Russia's satellite nations. None of what's happening now with regard to the ISU (and other winter sports feds) allowing for AINs in Milano-Cortina is in any way surprising if one follows the IOC. They certainly won't hesitate with lifting the ban entirely as soon as there is a ceasefire not because of anything any world leader has done to intervene on their behalf but because they're well-inclined to do it all on their own at first cessation of hostilities.

 

[caseyedwards]

YMMV - but, I do think it is worth reiterating that the IOC has been horribly squishy on the question of the continued ban on Russian & Belarusian athletes for the better part of the last 2 years. For the first year or so, they weren't entertaining the notion of allowing RUS/BLR back, despite rumblings from some of the international sports feds who had presidents from Russia or Russia's satellite nations. None of what's happening now with regard to the ISU (and other winter sports feds) allowing for AINs in Milano-Cortina is in any way surprising if one follows the IOC. They certainly won't hesitate with lifting the ban entirely as soon as there is a ceasefire not because of anything any world leader has done to intervene on their behalf but because they're well-inclined to do it all on their own at first cessation of hostilities.

False Russia is banned and likely to not send one person to Italy. This in your mind is pro Russia. What’s anti Russia?

It’s pro Russia to have

Implicit nonverbal test of behavior
Banning all talking to anyone if one does go
Banning any talking to media
Banning being in the same place as other Olympians
Listing all the websites you ever visited
Listing all comments you posted and deleted
Giving ioc your passwords to all social media accounts
Having ioc minder
IOC approval of all clothes including underwear

You can say athletes are used to extreme invasiveness but this is mostly about psychological torture especially the extreme isolation. And it’s all ioc and Bach reveling in the torture

 

[kwanfan1818]

I agree that the IOC has been chomping at the bit to get the back in and that they've been taking a dismantling approach to their problem.

I wish the Olympics would be put down, but that's after I get my pony.

 

[PRlady]

I wouldn’t be surprised if reversing IOC policy is on Putin’s negotiation wish list. It doesn’t cost Zelenskyy anything relative to other concessions and Trump will be happy to facilitate and piss off Europe again.

 

[caseyedwards]

I agree that the IOC has been chomping at the bit to get the back in and that they've been taking a dismantling approach to their problem.

I wish the Olympics would be put down, but that's after I get my pony.

Based on what? They are not. The overwhelming frontrunner is Coe. He is favored to win and it’s not expected to be close. He aims to continue to bans on Russia and its athletes.

BY THE WAY: There were 4 Russian medalists in Paris. 4. This is called being pro Russia here.

 

[caseyedwards]

I wouldn’t be surprised if reversing IOC policy is on Putin’s negotiation wish list. It doesn’t cost Zelenskyy anything relative to other concessions and Trump will be happy to facilitate and piss off Europe again.

And what if every European country decided to boycott as well as American Canada Japan athletes if Russia is there? They aren’t going to choose to have only Russia and China at the Olympics