BEIJING – FEBRUARY 17: Kamila Valieva of Russia in action during the Women’s Ice Skating Free Program at the Winter Olympics on February 17th, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images)
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One of skating’s historic powerhouses could soon return to the ice. In an announcement on Tuesday, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Executive Committee reinstated Belarusian student-athletes and permitted Russian student-athletes under a neutrality eligibility framework.
The landmark move clears the way for Russian and Belarusian participation at the 2027 FISU World University Winter Games in Changchun, China. Held every two years, the winter FISU World University Games are the “largest international winter multi-sport event for student-athletes,” featuring over 2,500 competitors from over 50 nations.
The Executive Committee argued that the decision mirrors the IOC recommendation to spare youth athletes from government culpability. This perspective “strongly resonates with student-athletes,” FISU asserts.
In an effort to “uniquely mirror” federation decisions, FISU will permit Russian athletes under neutrality conditions. Similar to the “AIN” status seen at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, these conditions prohibit the usage of national flags, anthems, or uniforms at FISU competition.
2022 ISU Suspension Changes the Sport
Russian and Belarusian skaters were first banned from international competition in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The International Skating Union (ISU) subsequently allowed a limited number of individual neutral athletes (AINs) to compete in designated Olympic qualifying events for the 2025–26 season.
Russian and Belarusian figure skaters later qualified as individual neutral (AIN) athletes for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, a decision approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Despite the IOC’s approval, the International Skating Union has upheld its 2022 ban, excluding athletes from ISU-sanctioned events, such as world championships and other major international competitions.
For women’s figure skating, the Russian absence has been indelible. After winning three consecutive women’s titles at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 Olympic Games, the ISU ban ushered in a new era of Japanese and American dominance.
Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto won three consecutive world titles from 2022 to 2024, then added a fourth in 2026, with American Alysa Liu winning the 2025 world title and Olympic gold in February.
Will Russia Be Reinstated At June’s ISU Congress?
After multiple sport federations eased restrictions on Russian and Belarusian participation in recent months, this week’s announcement from the International University Sports Federation (FISU) signals potential change for the skating world.
The late-May timing of the FISU announcement could serve as consequential foreshadowing of the International Skating Union’s (ISU) annual congress.
The federation will convene for the 60th Ordinary ISU Congress from June 10 to 12 in Tenerife, Spain, just over two weeks from Tuesday’s statement. According to ISU, the event represents a “decisive moment in the governance and future direction of international skating.”
ISU Communications identifies the election of ISU leadership as the major focus, but the congressional agenda includes discussions on “athlete welfare, anti-doping, development initiatives and legal affairs.”
“The 60th Ordinary ISU Congress represents a unique opportunity for the global skating community to exchange perspectives and collectively shape the direction of the ISU for the years ahead – driven by innovation, collaboration and inclusivity across all skating disciplines,” ISU messaging reads.
Verdicts from June’s congress could affect the upcoming ISU Figure Skating season, beginning with the ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix first event on August 19–22, 2026 in Xi’An, China.
Accordingly, FISU commits to fully reinstating Russian and Belarusian athletes should the applicable federation – the ISU – initiate the change. With the skating season still months away, all eyes turn to Tenerife.