Norwegian NRK channel reporter Jan Petter Saldvedt shared his view on the impact of the suspension of Russian athletes at the World Ski Championships held in Planica, Slovenia.
“Almost no one finds the presence of Russian skiers acceptable. The suspension, however, affects the level of competition. The World Cup will be different and a little less interesting. This will most affect men’s cross-country skiing competitions.
Everyone has to adapt to a situation that can last for years. Russians are no longer a part of the ski world.” DEA News.
The World Championships will be held in Planica from February 21 to March 5.
On January 25, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it was considering the possibility of allowing Russian athletes who did not support a special operation in Ukraine to participate in international competitions with neutral status.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) decided to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions until the end of last season in 2022. In October, this decision was extended for the 2022/23 season.
Formerly the International Skating Union (ISU) filed Appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) against the acquittal of the anti-doping commission of the disciplinary committee of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) in the case of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva.