A statement from the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKR), delivered by its Director General, communicates a firm stance on the treatment of skaters who have changed citizenship. The federation plans to apply a uniform quarantine policy for athletes who switch national allegiances, ensuring a consistent standard across all such cases. This year, nineteen local skaters elected to pursue citizenship changes, signaling a continuing trend in the sport’s landscape beyond national borders.
Transfers to other national teams are reviewed on a fixed schedule. Requests are assessed in May and again in December, with the FFKKR preparing to evaluate the same set of applications during the executive committee meeting in December. Consequently, the federation considers the matter closed after those reviews. Names of the athletes are kept confidential until the executive board’s decision becomes effective and all requisite documentation is finalized. The federation reiterates that a standard quarantine will apply to every athlete, reinforcing a uniform approach across cases.
It is important to note that the International Skating Union (ISU) has suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes from competition, a restriction issued in conjunction with recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This decision was approved at the ISU congress in early June and remains a point of ongoing discussion within the sport. The suspension affects participation in events and has implications for athletes seeking to represent new national teams.
Historically, former federation leadership indicated that four skaters had chosen to return to the Russian national team after previously changing citizenship in early 2022, a development that underlines the fluid nature of national eligibility in figure skating and the continuing interest among skaters to align with different national programs when opportunities arise.