The Alpine Skiing World Cup season started on Sunday 23 October in Sölden (Austria) without the Russian and Belarusian athletes. And it should continue without them. The International Ski Federation (FIS) Council announced its decision to maintain the suspension of skiers from the two countries involved in the conflict in Ukraine. The sanction will apply to all FIS-stamped competitions for the 2022/2023 season. “The Council has decided, in order to maintain the integrity of FIS competitions and for the safety of all participants, and in line with the IOC’s recommendations, to maintain its policy of not allowing the Russian and Belarusian teams to participate in FIS competitions,” the body said in a statement. The Russians and Belarusians were already banned from biathlon competitions, a sport in which they carry a much greater weight than in alpine skiing. However, their exclusion from the World Cup cross-country skiing events will have a much greater impact on the world hierarchy, particularly on the women’s circuit.
