Russian athletes excluded from luge at 2026 Winter Olympics by the sport's governing body
TAMPERE, Finland (AP) — Russian luge athletes are excluded from competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics even as individuals with neutral status, the sport's governing body decided Wednesday.
The International Luge Federation (FIL) voted to uphold its ban on Russians from international events imposed since 2022 during the military invasion of Ukraine.
Advertisement
Athletes cited concerns about 'safety, Olympic quotas, anti-doping compliance, and fairness' when consulted by the governing body ahead of the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Games that open Feb. 6.
'With this decision, the FIL reaffirms its commitment to integrity, safety, and solidarity in international sport,' it said.
The Russian team had 10 lugers compete at the 2022 Beijing Olympics — which closed four days before the full military attack on Ukraine — and won one bronze medal, by Tatyana Ivanova in women's singles.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Russia and its military ally Belarus were excluded from team sports though athletes in individual sports could apply for neutral status to compete. A total of 32 accepted invitations from the International Olympic Committee after passing eligibility tests that included not publicly supporting the war and not having ties to military and state security agencies.
Advertisement
Two votes were held Wednesday at the FIL Congress: A 24 votes to seven decision to renew the exclusion of Russians and a 24-8 vote against creating a neutral athlete program for Russians.
'This outcome reflects our collective responsibility to uphold fair and safe competition," FIL President Einars Fogelis said in a statement. "We fully respect the diversity of views within our community, especially from our athletes.'
___
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
41 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Australia wins the toss and sends West Indies in to bat in T20 cricket series opener
Associated Press KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Australia won the toss and sent West Indies in to bat Sunday to start a Twenty20 international cricket series that includes five games in eight days. The Australians, coming off a 3-0 test series sweep, gave a debut to Mitchell Owen, a Tasmanian allrounder who opened the batting with success for the Hobart Hurricanes in the domestic T20 league last season. Mitch Marsh is leading a T20 lineup that will also feature Cameron Green and Josh Inglis from the test squad. Veteran allrounder Andre Russell will be playing his next-to-last T20 for the West Indies in a team led by Shai Hope and featuring Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph in the bowling attack. Lineups: West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (captain), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph. Australia: Mitch Marsh (captain), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshius, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa. ___ AP cricket: in this topic
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Australia wins the toss and sends West Indies in to bat in T20 cricket series opener
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Australia won the toss and sent West Indies in to bat Sunday to start a Twenty20 international cricket series that includes five games in eight days. The Australians, coming off a 3-0 test series sweep , gave a debut to Mitchell Owen, a Tasmanian allrounder who opened the batting with success for the Hobart Hurricanes in the domestic T20 league last season. Mitch Marsh is leading a T20 lineup that will also feature Cameron Green and Josh Inglis from the test squad. Veteran allrounder Andre Russell will be playing his next-to-last T20 for the West Indies in a team led by Shai Hope and featuring Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph in the bowling attack. Lineups: West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (captain), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph. Australia: Mitch Marsh (captain), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshius, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa. ___ AP cricket:
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Australia wins the toss and sends West Indies in to bat in T20 cricket series opener
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Australia won the toss and sent West Indies in to bat Sunday to start a Twenty20 international cricket series that includes five games in eight days. The Australians, coming off a 3-0 test series sweep, gave a debut to Mitchell Owen, a Tasmanian allrounder who opened the batting with success for the Hobart Hurricanes in the domestic T20 league last season. Mitch Marsh is leading a T20 lineup that will also feature Cameron Green and Josh Inglis from the test squad. Veteran allrounder Andre Russell will be playing his next-to-last T20 for the West Indies in a team led by Shai Hope and featuring Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph in the bowling attack. Lineups: West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (captain), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph. ___
