Following discussions at an International Skating Union (ISU) gathering, Coach Alexander Zhulin commented that he did not anticipate any return of Russian figure skaters to international competition, noting little to no progress in the issue. He added that he did not expect this topic to be on the table for discussion in any meaningful way.
In late February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged global sports bodies to bar domestic and Belarusian athletes from competing due to the political climate. In response, the ISU suspended athletes from Russia and Belarus from events. The federation had been slated to address the possible reinstatement of Russia and Belarus at a council session in Lausanne on October 6–8, but that discussion did not take place then.
According to a source from RIA Novosti on October 6, there were members within the ISU who favored allowing Belarusian athletes to take part in certain tournaments, signaling internal debate about participation rules during the period of suspension.
Speed skating, short track speed skating, and figure skating are all governed by the ISU, an organization responsible for establishing competition rules, schedules, and eligibility. The evolving stance of the federation has been the subject of ongoing public and internal deliberations among stakeholders and national federations alike.
Previous remarks attributed to Tatyana Navka suggested that the International Skating Union was hesitant to readmit Russia, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding future participation and the potential impact on the sport’s governance and competitive landscape. These developments reflect broader conversations about eligibility, international representation, and the ways political contexts influence athletic competition on the world stage, as observed by observers and analysts alike .