The International Skating Union (ISU) reportedly has not yet decided on whether Russians can be admitted to international competitions, with any decision likely not to be made before mid-March according to Match TV, which cited a source close to the matter. This situation sits within a broader context of ongoing sanctions and travel restrictions that have real consequences for athletes, national federations, and fans who follow the sport closely across North America. The potential change in policy would come after a period of heightened scrutiny and careful assessment by ISU leadership, balancing questions of sportsmanship, competitive fairness, and the implications for the global skating calendar.
Since spring 2022, Russian skaters have been ineligible to compete in ISU-sanctioned events. That exclusion extended to major gatherings such as the 2022 World Championship in Montpellier, various International Grand Prix series events, and the 2023 European Championship. The absence of Russian participants has shaped the dynamics of these competitions, influencing entry lists, skater development pipelines, and the international reputation of the sport. Federations outside Russia have sometimes cited the gap in field depth as a factor in analyzing performances, while athletes in Russia have had to navigate domestic circuits with an eye toward potential asterisk-free opportunities abroad should policy allowances change. This situation illustrates how geopolitical decisions intersect with sport, creating a ripple effect across training cycles, funding, sponsorships, and the visibility of skating programs on the world stage.
To understand the policy grounds, it is worth recalling that toward the end of February 2022 the International Olympic Committee urged international federations to bar domestic and Belarusian athletes from participation in competitions wherever possible. In response, the ISU announced a suspension of Russian and Belarusian competitors from events indefinitely, a move aligned with broader calls from the IOC and national Olympic bodies to uphold a unified stance during a period of intense geopolitical tension. The consequences were far-reaching: athletes faced disruption to their careers, national teams had to adjust their strategic plans, and organizers recalibrated schedules to accommodate the new lineups. In many cases, coaching staff and national federations had to pivot quickly, focusing on preparedness for the next available opportunities while dealing with uncertainties about eligibility and travel restrictions. The suspension also intensified discussions about eligibility criteria, anti-doping standards, and the governance of sport in times of crisis, underscoring how federations must navigate competing demands from athletes, sponsors, and fans who demand clarity and continuity.
Alexander Kogan, who serves as the Director General of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, made a public statement regarding the federation’s approach to governance and selections. He noted that the organization would weigh the perspectives expressed by Evgeny Plushenko, a two-time Olympic champion and a longtime influential voice in Russian skating, particularly concerning the composition of judges and the integrity of the jury during youth-level national championships. Plushenko’s opinions have long been associated with the scrutiny of judging standards and the perceived fairness of competition. The federation’s responsiveness to such viewpoints highlights its attempt to balance respect for established merit and the need to uphold confidence in the judging process, both domestically and in the eyes of the international skating community. In this context, the federation emphasized that any future decisions would be grounded in due process, transparency, and alignment with international protocols, while also accounting for the specific realities facing young skaters who aspire to elevate their sport on a global stage. This stance reflects an ongoing conversation about governance, accountability, and the ways in which national bodies engage with the broader ecosystem of coaches, officials, and athletes who are shaping the future of figure skating.