FIS has granted neutral status to more than 100 Russian cross-country skiers. Now a border official stands between them and the World Cup. Finland's government is due to tighten visa rules for Russian professional athletes on Thursday, 12 November, according to public broadcaster Yle. If the change goes through, Russia's comeback could stall at the very first World Cup stop of the season in Ruka at the end of November.
What is changing
Finland has had strict entry restrictions on Russian citizens since 2022, but professional athletes have so far enjoyed an exemption: they could get a short-term visa for paid work lasting less than 90 days. Helsinki now wants to close that door for Russian athletes. According to the reports, the rule will also cover athletes who compete without national symbols. Visas that have already been issued will not be revoked.
The push came from Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. She announced that President Alexander Stubb and the government's ministerial committee on foreign and security policy had discussed the entry of Russian citizens. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo confirmed that the changes specifically target professional athletes. Back in October, Valtonen had already urged her EU counterparts to bar Russian athletes from the entire Schengen area.
Muonio largely spared, Ruka in the firing line
For the season opener in Muonio, which starts on Friday with a classic sprint, the new rule effectively comes too late. Four Russians are entered there: Saveliy Korostelev, fourth in the Olympic skiathlon; Olympic champion Natalia Terenteva (formerly Nepryaeva); her sister Dariya Nepryaeva; and Sergei Volkov. All four already hold valid Schengen visas. Volkov told Polish outlet WP SportoweFakty that he had arrived: "I am already in Finland, no problems."
The real test comes at the World Cup opener in Ruka from 27 to 29 November. Entries reportedly include Alexander Bolshunov, Veronika Stepanova, Alexander Terentev, Sergey Ardashev and Alena Baranova, although Bolshunov himself has not yet been granted neutral status by FIS. The Finnish Ski Association expects the neutral contingent to be bigger than in Lahti last spring. According to German outlet sport1, FIS has assured the Finns that Ruka will keep its World Cup status even if individual athletes are refused entry. Visa decisions rest solely with the host country.
Cross-CountrySpitsov cleared, Bolshunov left out: FIS neutral status row heads to CASThere is one loophole. Anyone holding a valid Schengen visa issued by another member state cannot be turned away at the Finnish border. How much bite the new rule has will therefore depend on how many Russians have already secured visas elsewhere.
Moscow promises legal backing
Russian Ski Federation president Dmitry Svishchev hit out at the Nordic countries, accusing them of breaching their obligations as organisers, according to Yle and Russian outlet Championat. He promised his athletes "maximum support, both legal and economic" if they are kept out.
Finland is not alone. Poland has already refused visas to Russian ski jumpers for the World Cups in Wisła and Zakopane, and Sweden is reportedly weighing similar steps ahead of the Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun. For cross-country skiing, though, the question will be answered first in Helsinki. If the decision falls as expected, Ruka in just over two weeks will be the first real test of the new rules.
