Alexander Bolshunov's long-awaited return to the World Cup is suddenly in serious doubt. Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing an anonymous source, reported on Sunday that the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has refused the three-time Olympic champion neutral status for the 2026/27 season. "He was offered to wait until next season, despite the fact that he quit CSKA," the source was quoted as saying. Nothing has been confirmed – and that is exactly what makes the case so explosive.
FIS stays silent, Russia still waiting
FIS is neither confirming nor denying the report. "For legal and confidentiality reasons, we cannot comment on individual cases regarding neutral status," the federation said, according to Norwegian outlet langrenn.com. Moscow is not offering clarity either. Yelena Välbe, vice-president of the Russian ski federation, said she had no information about Bolshunov's status and was not involved in the process. She also told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that Bolshunov had not yet received any official answer from FIS.
The Russian federation had named the 29-year-old, alongside Olympic champion Veronika Stepanova, in a provisional eight-strong squad for the World Cup opener in Ruka (November 27-29) and the following stop in Trondheim (December 4-6) – explicitly on condition that FIS gives the green light. Bolshunov's coach told Sport24 that his athlete had left the army and therefore met the requirements set by FIS.
A dilemma of FIS's own making
The backdrop is this autumn's overhaul of the criteria for Russian and Belarusian athletes. According to NRK, FIS removed a time restriction that had previously excluded anyone who had supported the war since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The rules now only bar athletes with military ties or ongoing support for the war. Membership of the army club CSKA or of Dynamo is no longer, on its own, automatic grounds for refusal.
Sources told NRK that this has left the federation caught in a bind. Let Bolshunov race, and it risks a fierce backlash from major skiing nations such as Norway. Turn him down, and it could lose at the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Russia has already signalled it would take the case to Lausanne. Italian site OA Sport warns that the entire neutral-status system could unravel if Bolshunov's exit from the military club is judged differently from comparable cases. Dozens of Russian cross-country skiers have already been cleared under the new criteria, among them Alina Pekletsova, Ekaterina Nikitina, Ekaterina Shibekina, Dmitry Puzanov and Andrei Sakharov on October 14.
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In Norway, the saga is being followed with deep suspicion. NRK pundit Jan Petter Saltvedt said the rules appeared "tailored to get Russia's biggest star back" and urged FIS to rethink its approach. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, for years Bolshunov's fiercest rival, called the issue political and kept his distance. One of his strengths had always been focusing on what he could control, he said. "This is perhaps what I can influence the least."
Bolshunov has not raced internationally since February 2022 and also missed the Olympics in Italy after FIS refused him neutral status at the time. Even a positive ruling would not clear every hurdle for Trondheim: the Norwegian government decides on entry into the country independently of the governing body.
Clarity could come as early as this Tuesday, when the FIS board takes up the case – a little over three weeks before the first World Cup race in Ruka.
